CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

• US 20080039269A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Lohr, Charles, Armstrong, Oronde, Miller, Donald, Pohl, Brad, Nichols, Jon, Thomassy, Fernand, Poth, Wesley, Simister, Mathew, Dawe, Daniel, Smithson, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/841,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039269A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 476/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 23/00 Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/00 Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like cycle chain guards B62J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/50 Gearings providing a continuous range of gear ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/503 in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49462 Gear making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49467 Gear shaping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.

Claims

1. A ring for transmitting torque in a continuously variable transmission, the ring comprising:

an annular body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a front surface, and a back surface;

a contact surface adapted to transfer torque, the contact surface interposed between the front surface and the inner surface; and

at least one lubricant port in the annular body to facilitate the flow of lubricant.

2. The ring of claim 1, wherein the lubricant port extends from the front surface to the inside surface.

3. The ring of claim 1, wherein the lubricant port extends from the outer surface to the inner surface.

4. The ring of claim 1, wherein when the ring is viewed in cross section a plane parallel to the inner surface is at an oblique angle to a plane parallel to the back surface.

5. The ring of claim 1, wherein when the ring is viewed in cross section the contact surface is not coplanar with the front surface.

6. The ring of claim 1, wherein when the ring is viewed in cross section the contact surface is not coplanar with the inside surface.

7. The ring of claim 1, wherein when the ring is viewed in cross section the lubricant port is substantially parallel to a plane parallel to the contact surface.

8. The ring of claim 1, wherein the lubricant port extends from the front surface to the back surface.

9. A continuously variable transmission comprising:

a plurality of balls adapted to transfer torque; and

a disc in contact with the balls, the disc adapted to transfer torque to or from the balls, and the disc having at least one lubricant port.

10. The continuously variable transmission of claim 9, wherein the disc comprises a contact surface configured to transfer torque to or from the balls.

11. The continuously variable transmission of claim 10, wherein the disc comprises a front surface and an inner surface, and wherein the lubricant port extends from the front surface to the inner surface.

12. The continuously variable transmission of claim 10, wherein the disc comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the lubricant port extends from the outer surface to the inner surface.

13. The continuously variable transmission of claim 11, wherein when the disc is viewed in cross section the lubricant port is substantially parallel to the contact surface.

14. The continuously variable transmission of claim 12, wherein when the disc is viewed in cross section the lubricant port is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface.

15. The continuously variable transmission of claim 9, wherein the disc contacts each ball at a point that is radially outward relative to the center of the ball.

16. A torque transfer ring for a continuously variable transmission, the ring comprising:

an outer surface substantially defining an outer diameter;

an inner surface substantially defining an inner bore;

a contact surface lying on a plane oblique to a central axis of the ring, when the ring is viewed in cross section; and

an annular body having at least one oil port, the annular body being defined in part by the outer surface, the inner surface, and the contact surface.

17. The ring of claim 16, wherein the annular body is further defined by a front surface and a back surface.

18. The ring of claim 16, wherein the oil port extends from the outer surface to the inner surface.

19. The ring of claim 17, wherein the oil port extends from the front surface to the inner surface.

20. The ring of claim 19, wherein when the ring is viewed in cross section the oil port extends substantially parallel to the contact surface.