CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Traction planets and traction rings can be operationally coupled to a planetary gearset to provide a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be used in a bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on the frame of the bicycle at a location forward of the rear wheel hub of the bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on and supported by members of the bicycle frame such that the CVT is coaxial with the crankshaft of the bicycle. The crankshaft is configured to drive elements of the planetary gearset, which are configured to operationally drive the traction rings and the traction planets. Inventive component and subassemblies for such a CVT are disclosed. A shifting mechanism includes a plurality of pivot arms arranged to pivot about the centers of the traction planets as a shift pin hub moves axially.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A bicycle comprising:
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a crankshaft;
a rotatable planetary gear set carrier coupled to the crankshaft;
a plurality of planet gears coupled to said carrier;
a ring gear, rotationally constrained, coupled to the planet gears;
a sun gear coupled to the planet gears;
a first traction ring operationally coupled to the sun gear;
a plurality of traction planets coupled to the traction ring; and
a second traction ring coupled to the traction planets. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A bicycle comprising:
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a crankshaft;
a rotatable planetary gear set carrier coupled to the crankshaft;
a plurality of planet gears coupled to said carrier;
a ring gear, rotationally constrained, coupled to the planet gears;
a sun gear coupled to the planet gears;
a first traction ring operationally coupled to the sun gear and coaxially mounted about the crankshaft;
a plurality of traction planets coupled to the traction ring; and
a second traction ring coupled to the traction planets and coaxially mounted about the crankshaft. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A bicycle transmission comprising:
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a planetary gear set configured for coupling to a crankshaft of a bicycle and to be mounted coaxially about said crankshaft; and
a continuously variable variator coupled to said planetary gearset configured to be mounted coaxially about said crankshaft. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37-50. -50. (canceled)
Specification