INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS, CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS, METHODS, ASSEMBLIES, SUBASSEMBLIES, AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR
First Claim
1. A transmission comprising:
- a first traction ring mounted coaxially about a longitudinal axis of the transmission;
a plurality of tiltable balls placed angularly about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the first traction ring, each tiltable ball being tiltable about an axis of rotation;
a second traction ring mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis of the transmission and in contact with the plurality of tiltable balls;
an idler placed radially inward of, and in contact with, the plurality of tiltable balls;
a cage operably having a first carrier member and a second carrier member coupled to the plurality of balls;
a first clutch assembly operably coupled to the first carrier member and a first ring driver, wherein in an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) mode configuration a first clutch assembly first element engages the first carrier member and a first clutch assembly second element disengages from the first ring driver, and wherein in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mode configuration the first clutch assembly second element engages the first ring driver and the first clutch assembly first element disengages the first carrier member;
a second clutch assembly operably coupled to the first carrier member and the first ring driver, wherein in the IVT mode configuration a second clutch assembly first element disengages the first ring driver and a second clutch assembly second element engages the first carrier member, and wherein in the CVT mode the second clutch assembly second element disengages the first carrier member and the second clutch assembly first element engages the first ring driver;
wherein at least two of the first traction ring, the second traction ring, the idler, and the cage are adapted to receive a power input; and
wherein at least one of the first traction ring, the second traction ring, the idler and the cage is adapted to provide a power output.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in operating mode of an IVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a drive clutch coupled to a source of rotational power; the drive clutch is configured to selectively engage a traction ring and a carrier of the IVT. The control system includes a one-way clutch assembly configured to selectively engage the traction ring and the carrier. In some embodiments, the control system governs the actuation of the one-way clutch to selectively lock and unlock components of the IVT. In some embodiments, the control system implements an IVT mode wherein the carrier selectively couples to a source of rotational power. In other embodiments, the control system implements a CVT mode wherein the traction ring selectively couples to a source of rotational power.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A transmission comprising:
-
a first traction ring mounted coaxially about a longitudinal axis of the transmission; a plurality of tiltable balls placed angularly about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the first traction ring, each tiltable ball being tiltable about an axis of rotation; a second traction ring mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis of the transmission and in contact with the plurality of tiltable balls; an idler placed radially inward of, and in contact with, the plurality of tiltable balls; a cage operably having a first carrier member and a second carrier member coupled to the plurality of balls; a first clutch assembly operably coupled to the first carrier member and a first ring driver, wherein in an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) mode configuration a first clutch assembly first element engages the first carrier member and a first clutch assembly second element disengages from the first ring driver, and wherein in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mode configuration the first clutch assembly second element engages the first ring driver and the first clutch assembly first element disengages the first carrier member; a second clutch assembly operably coupled to the first carrier member and the first ring driver, wherein in the IVT mode configuration a second clutch assembly first element disengages the first ring driver and a second clutch assembly second element engages the first carrier member, and wherein in the CVT mode the second clutch assembly second element disengages the first carrier member and the second clutch assembly first element engages the first ring driver; wherein at least two of the first traction ring, the second traction ring, the idler, and the cage are adapted to receive a power input; and wherein at least one of the first traction ring, the second traction ring, the idler and the cage is adapted to provide a power output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification