HYDROMECHANICAL CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

• US 20150354607A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benzion Avni
• Original Assignee: Benzion Avni
• Inventors: Avni, BenZion
• Granted Patent: US 9,353,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/28 characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F03C 1/0419 Arrangements for pressing or connecting the pistons against the actuated cam
• CPC Class Codes: F03C 1/0422 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: F03C 1/0425 Disconnecting the pistons from the actuated cam in general F01B31/24
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/0426 Arrangements for pressing the pistons against the actuated cam; Arrangements for connecting the pistons to the actuated cam
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/043 Hydraulic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/0435 Arrangements for disconnecting the pistons from the actuated cam
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/053 with actuating or actuated elements at the inner ends of the cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/16 with two or more servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/06 for mechanically converting rectilinear movement into non- rectilinear movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/00 Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00 combinations of mechanical gearing with fluid clutches or fluid gearing F16H47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/00 Rotary fluid gearing using pumps and motors of the volumetric type, i.e. passing a predetermined volume of fluid per revolution control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/02 with liquid motors at a distance from liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/12 with stationary cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/20 the connections of the pistons being at the inner ends of the cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/24 with rotary displacement members, e.g. provided with axially or radially movable vanes passing movable sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/425 Motor capacity control by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/435 Pump capacity control by electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a transmission, and more particularly to a semi-Continually Variable Transmission (sCVT), a semi-Continuous, Variable Displacement Motor, a semi-Continuously Reciprocating Multiplex Pump (sCVDP) and an infinitely variable transmission (IVT).

Claims

1. A hydromechanical, semi continuously variable transmission (sCVT), comprising:

a. a transmission housing base disc, comprising an inlet port for a hydraulic fluid;

b. a cylindrical transmission housing having a proximal axial end and a distal axial end, and an internal radial surface and external radial surface, the transmission housing defining a plurality of bores disposed radially at the distal axial end, wherein the proximal axial end is operably coupled to the transmission housing base disc;

c. a plurality of valve housing each having a proximal axial end and a distal axial end disposed axially above the plurality of bores defined in the transmission housing, the valve housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and being in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump and operably coupled to an actuator;

d. a plurality of pistons, each slidably coupled within the bore defined in the periphery of the cylindrical transmission housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends into the internal radial surface of the cylindrical transmission housing, configured to engage a drive shaft;

e. a plurality of valves, each disposed within the valve housing, the valve operably coupled to an actuator and configured to regulate fluid communication between the distal end of the piston and the hydraulic fluid by exposing or blocking the inlet port and the outlet port of the hydraulic fluid;

f. a drive shaft, having a distal end and a proximal end, the drive shaft having an elliptical head having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis disposed at the proximal end of the drive shaft, wherein the distal end extends beyond a transmission housing cover disc and is operably coupled to a wheel or a gear and the proximal end is operably coupled to an encoder;

g. an encoder centrally coupled to the transmission housing base disc and coupled to the elliptical drive shaft head;

h. a transmission housing cover disc, coupled to the distal end of the cylindrical transmission housing;

i. a plurality of actuators, each operably coupled to the valve; and

j. a control module, configured to receive input from a plurality of sensors and engage a predetermined number of pistons at a predetermined location along the periphery of the cylindrical transmission housing, the location of the actuators configured to impart continuous radial motion to the drive shaft head, wherein the number of piston engaged depends on the input received from the plurality of sensors.

2. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bores, comprise between 5 and 168 bores.

3. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the elliptical drive shaft head further comprises a radial layer, operably coupled to the elliptical drive shaft head, configured to rotate around the drive shaft independently of the elliptical drive shaft head.

4. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 3, having cylindrical bearings axially disposed between the radial layer and the elliptical drive shaft head.

5. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the piston proximal end is operably coupled to a bearing configured to engage the periphery of the elliptical drive shaft head.

6. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the input to the control module is received from a wheel or gear torque sensor, the drive shaft torque sensor, the encoder, a motor revolution per minute (RPM) sensor, a gear or wheel revolution per minute (RPM) sensor, hydraulic fluid pressure sensor, or a combination comprising the foregoing.

7. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 6, wherein the drive shaft head defines at least two diametrically opposed working zones;

at least two diametrically opposed discharge zones; and

at least two diametrically opposed transition zones.

8. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 7, wherein at the vertices of the ellipse defined by the elliptical head, the major and minor semiaxis are different and define a circular arc between center angle of about 2°

and about 20°

, with radii that are shorter and longer respectively than the major and minor semiaxis at the remaining ellipse curvature.

9. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 7, wherein, at a fixed or increasing hydraulic fluid pressure, the higher the wheel torque or gear, the larger is the number of pistons engaged by the control module in the working zone.

10. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 7, wherein, at a fixed or decreasing load on the wheel or gear, the higher the hydraulic pressure, the smaller is the number of pistons engaged by the control module in the working zone.

11. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the valve is a rotating valve.

12. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, wherein the valve is a spool valve.

13. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a servo motor configured to rotate the rotating valve.

14. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 12, wherein the actuator is a servo motor, further comprising means for converting rotational motion to reciprocating linear motion, wherein the means for converting rotational motion to reciprocating linear motion are operably coupled to the spool valve.

15. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 1, where the unengaged pistons are biased away from the elliptical drive shaft head.

16. A hydromechanical, semi continuously variable transmission (sCVT), comprising:

a. a transmission housing base disc, defining an inlet port for a hydraulic fluid;

b. a cylindrical piston housing having a proximal axial end and a distal axial end, and an internal radial surface and external radial surface, wherein the cylindrical piston housing defining a cylindrical space, configured to receive a plurality of axially oriented pistons, wherein the proximal axial end of the piston is operably coupled to transmission the housing base disc;

c. a plurality of spool valve housing, each having a proximal axial end and a distal axial end disposed radially, the spool valve housing having inlet port and outlet port and being in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump and operably coupled to actuator;

d. a plurality of axially oriented pistons, each slidably coupled within the cylindrical space defined between the walls of cylindrical piston housing having an internal wall, and each piston having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends into cylindrical piston housing having internal wall, configured to engage a drive shaft head;

e. a plurality of spool valves, each disposed within the spool valve housing and operably coupled to actuator and configured to regulate fluid communication between the distal end of the piston and the hydraulic fluid by exposing or blocking the inlet port and outlet port of the hydraulic fluid;

f. a drive shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the drive shaft having a drive shaft head defining a cylinder, the cylinder having an internal surface and external surface and being closed at the distal end, with the proximal end defining a sinusoidal surface configured to engage the distal end of the piston, and wherein the distal end of the drive shaft extends beyond the transmission housing cover disc and the proximal end of the drive shaft is operably coupled to an encoder;

g. an encoder centrally coupled to the transmission housing base disc and coupled to the drive shaft;

h. a transmission housing cover disc coupled to the distal end of cylindrical transmission housing;

i. a plurality of servo motors each operably coupled to the cylindrical transmission housing;

j. means for converting rotational motion to reciprocating linear motion, the conversion means operably coupling each spool valve to each servo motor; and

a

k. control module, configured to receive input from a plurality of sensors and engage a predetermined number of actuators at a predetermined location along the periphery of the cylindrical transmission housing, the location of the pistons configured to impart continuous radial motion to the drive shaft head, wherein the number of piston engaged depends on the input received from the plurality of sensors.

17. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 16, wherein the plurality of pistons, comprise between 5 and 168 pistons.

18. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 16, wherein the piston proximal end comprises a bracket operably coupled to a roller bearing configured to engage the sinusoidal surface defined by the proximal end of the drive shaft head.

19. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 18, wherein the roller bearing is frusto conical.

20. The hydromechanical sCVT of claim 18, wherein the bracket further comprises a ball bearing, captured within the bracket and configured to both roll and turn upon contact with the internal surface defined by the cylindrical shaft head.