CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION
First Claim
1. A method for transferring power through a variable speed transmission having a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axle about which it rotates, the method comprising:
- receiving a power input by a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls;
determining a desired power output for the variable speed transmission;
adjusting a tilt angle for the plurality of balls, wherein the tilt angle is based on one of a desired speed ratio or torque ratio corresponding to the desired power output; and
routing the received power through one of an output disc or a rotatable idler, wherein the output disc is positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls, wherein the idler is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls, and wherein the idler is coupled to an idler shaft adapted to receive a power output from the idler and transmit the power output out of the transmission.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for transferring power through a variable speed transmission having a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axle about which it rotates, the method comprising:
-
receiving a power input by a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls; determining a desired power output for the variable speed transmission; adjusting a tilt angle for the plurality of balls, wherein the tilt angle is based on one of a desired speed ratio or torque ratio corresponding to the desired power output; and routing the received power through one of an output disc or a rotatable idler, wherein the output disc is positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls, wherein the idler is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls, and wherein the idler is coupled to an idler shaft adapted to receive a power output from the idler and transmit the power output out of the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for transferring power through a variable speed transmission having a plurality of balls, an input disc, an output disc, an idler and a cage, each ball having a tiltable axle about which it rotates, the method comprising:
-
receiving a power input by the input disc or the cage, wherein the input disc is positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls; determining a desired power output for the variable speed transmission; adjusting a tilt angle for the plurality of balls, wherein the tilt angle is based on one of a desired speed ratio or torque ratio corresponding to the desired power output; and routing the received power through the output disc or the idler, wherein the output disc is positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls, wherein the idler is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls, and wherein the idler is coupled to an idler shaft adapted to receive a power output from the idler and transmit the power output out of the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification