Toroidal continuously variable transmission

• US 6,159,126 A
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oshidari, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H
• Application Number:
  US09/327,483
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 476/10, 476/42, 476/40
• US Class Current: 476/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/38 with two members B having hollow toroid surfaces opposite to each other, the member or members A being adjustably mounted between the surfaces

Abstract

When a vehicle comprising a toroidal continuously variable transmission is pulled or run under its own inertia when the engine has stopped, the rotation torque of the drive wheels varies a gyration angle of a power roller (44FR, 44FL, 44RR, 44RL) via an output disk (18, 20) in a direction so as to reduce a speed ratio. This decrease of speed ratio reduces starting performance when the vehicle is restarted by the engine. This invention suppresses the variation of gyration angle by a spring (100) which limits the displacement of a trunnion (46FR, 46FL, 46RR, 46RL) supporting the power roller (44FR, 44FL, 44RR, 44RL).

Claims

1. A toroidal continuously variable transmission, comprising:

an input disk having a rotation axis;

an output disk having the same rotation axis as said input disk;

a power roller in contact with said input disk and output disk for transmitting a rotational torque between the disks;

a trunnion for supporting said power roller, said trunnion having a trunnion axis perpendicular to said rotation axis;

an oil pressure drive device for varying a contact point between said power roller and said input disk and output disk by displacing said trunnion within a predetermined range along the trunnion axis; and

a limiting member for limiting the displacement of said trunnion in the direction of said trunnion axis, when a rotation torque is input from said output disk to said power roller,

wherein said limiting member produces an elastic resistance against a direction of the displacement of said trunnion when there is no oil pressure from the oil pressure drive device and the rotation torque is input from said output disk to said power roller.

2. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 1, wherein said oil pressure drive device comprises a piston joined to said trunnion and an oil chamber which exerts a pressure on said piston in the direction of said trunnion axis, and said limiting member is disposed in said oil chamber.

3. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 2, wherein said limiting member comprises a plate spring disposed in said oil chamber for elastically supporting said piston in a direction opposing said load.

4. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 3, wherein said trunnion comprises a trunnion shaft coaxial with said trunnion axis, said piston is fixed to said trunnion shaft, said trunnion shaft passes through said oil chamber, said oil chamber has a wall surface facing said piston, and said plate spring comprises an outer circumferential part which comes in contact with said wall surface and an inner circumferential part which comes in contact with said piston.

5. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 2, wherein said limiting member comprises a ring-shaped wave spring disposed in said first oil chamber for elastically supporting said piston in a direction opposing said load.

6. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmission further comprises a resilient member and said trunnion comprises a second trunnion pushed in the direction of said trunnion axis by said resilient member, and said limiting member comprises a supporting member which supports said second trunnion against said resilient member.

7. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 6, wherein said oil pressure drive device comprises a piston connected to said second trunnion and an oil chamber which exerts a pressure on said piston in the direction of said trunnion axis, and said supporting member elastically supports said piston in said oil chamber.

8. A toroidal continuously variable transmission as defined in claim 7, wherein said second trunnion comprises a trunnion shaft coaxial with said trunnion axis, and said resilient member comprises a member which follows the movement of said trunnion shaft so as to feedback the displacement of said second trunnion to said oil pressure drive device.