Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rotary force transfer device, comprising:
- a housing having a cam mounted thereon;
a central axle rotatably mounted in the housing and configured to receive an input torque;
a torque-split mechanism comprising reciprocating means driven by the central axle and the eccentricity of the cam to split torque from the central axle;
a control mechanism coupled to the housing for controlling the torque-split mechanism; and
a clutch mechanism selectively coupling the reciprocating means to an output.
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Abstract
A torque transfer mechanism for use as a continuously variable transmission that includes an input shaft, a cam member, a torque-splitting mechanism cooperating with the cam member, and a torque output assembly for coupling the torque splitting mechanism to an output shaft when there is substantially zero relative velocity between the moving parts to be disconnected to minimize torque feedback to the input shaft.
75 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A rotary force transfer device, comprising:
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a housing having a cam mounted thereon;
a central axle rotatably mounted in the housing and configured to receive an input torque;
a torque-split mechanism comprising reciprocating means driven by the central axle and the eccentricity of the cam to split torque from the central axle;
a control mechanism coupled to the housing for controlling the torque-split mechanism; and
a clutch mechanism selectively coupling the reciprocating means to an output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mechanical cam and clutch continuously variable transmission, comprising:
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a housing;
a torque input shaft rotatably mounted in the housing;
a cam mounted to the housing and configured to move in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
a device for moving the cam relative to the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
a torque transfer mechanism comprising a shuttle carrier mounted on the input shaft to rotate with the input shaft, a shuttle assembly mounted over the shaft and cooperating with the shuttle carrier and the cam, the shuttle assembly including a shuttle follower mounted over the input shaft to rotate independent of the input shaft, and first and second torque transfer shafts rotatably mounted over the input shaft and coaxial with each other and with the input shaft, each of the first and second torque transfer shafts having a coupling device on a first end of the shaft for coupling the torque transfer shaft to the shuttle follower, and each shaft having a clutch input device at a second end thereof; and
a clutch output device configured to alternately connect the clutch input devices on the second end of the first and second shafts to an output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle, comprising:
A rotary force transfer device, comprising;
a housing;
a central axle rotatably mounted in the housing and configured to receive an input torque;
a torque-split mechanism comprising a cam coupled to the central axle and a reciprocating means driven by eccentricity of the cam to the central axle to split torque from the central axle;
a control mechanism coupled to the housing for controlling the torque-split mechanism; and
a clutch mechanism selectively coupling the reciprocating means to an output. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A machine, comprising:
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a prime mover supplying a torque input;
a torque input shaft rotatably mounted in a housing;
a cam mounted to the housing and configured to move in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
a device for moving the cam relative to the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
a torque transfer mechanism comprising a shuttle carrier mounted on the input shaft to rotate with the input shaft, a shuttle assembly mounted over the shaft and cooperating with the shuttle carrier and the cam, the shuttle assembly including a shuttle follower mounted over the input shaft to rotate independent of the input shaft, and first and second torque transfer shafts rotatably mounted over the input shaft and coaxial with each other and with the input shaft, each of the first and second torque transfer shafts having a coupling device on a first end of the shaft for coupling the torque transfer shaft to the shuttle follower, and each shaft having a clutch input device at a second end thereof; and
a clutch output device configured to alternately connect the clutch input devices on the second end of the first and second shafts to an output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A torque transfer mechanism, comprising:
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an input shaft;
a cam member;
a torque split assembly operatively coupled to the cam member and configured to split the input torque into a first output torque and a second output torque; and
a torque output assembly coupled to the torque split assembly and configured to couple the first output torque to an output shaft and to couple the second output torque to the output shaft when there is zero relative velocity between moving parts of the torque split assembly to be coupled to the output shaft. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification