CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

• US 20080039273A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Lohr, Charles, Armstrong, Oronde, Miller, Donald, Pohl, Brad, Nichols, Jon, Thomassy, Fernand, Poth, Wesley, Dawe, Daniel, Smithson, Robert, Simister, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/842,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039273A1
• 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. An axle for a spherical traction roller of a continuously variable transmission (“

CVT”

), the axle comprising;

an elongated, generally cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

a first shoulder formed on the body proximate to the first end of the body;

a second shoulder formed on the body proximate to the second end of the body; and

a waist portion on the body between the first and second shoulders.

2. The axle of claim 1, wherein the first and second shoulders have chamfers at edges defined by the first and second shoulders.

3. The axle of claim 1, wherein the waist portion is adapted to be a lubricant reservoir.

4. The axle of claim 1, wherein the axle is made of bronze.

5. The axle of claim 1, wherein the axle is made of an alloy of bronze and zinc.

6. The axle of claim 1, further comprising a bushing in frictional contact with a portion of the axle.

7. The axle of claim 1, further comprising caged needle rollers in frictional contact with a portion of axle.

8. The axle of claim 1, further comprising spacers mounted on at least one of the shoulders.

9. An axle for a spherical traction roller of a continuously variable transmission (“

CVT”

), the axle comprising;

means for coupling to a ball-leg assembly;

means for allowing a spherical traction roller to roll about an axis; and

means for aligning a spherical traction roller about the axle during operation of the CVT.

10. The axle of claim 9, wherein the means for aligning uses bearings.

11. The axle of claim 10, wherein the bearings are retained bearings.

12. The axle of claim 10, the axle further comprising means for separating the bearings.

13. The axle of claim 10, the axle further comprising means for reducing migration of the bearings.

14. A method of manufacturing an axle for a spherical traction roller of a continuously variable transmission (“

CVT”

), the method comprising the steps of;

forming an elongated, generally cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

forming a first shoulder on the body proximate to the first end of the body; and

forming a second shoulder on the body proximate to the second end of the body;

whereby

there exists a waist portion on the body between the first and second shoulders.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of forming chamfers on the first and second shoulders at edges defined by the first and second shoulders.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of adapting the waist portion to be a lubricant reservoir.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of placing a bushing in frictional contact with the axle.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of placing a bearing in frictional contact with the axle.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the axle is made of bronze.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the axle is made of an alloy of bronze and zinc.