Dual Drive continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, at least a portion of each of said moveable disk portions being axially moveable between said first shaft and at least a portion of each corresponding fixed disk portion of said fixed disk portions, said at least a portion of each of said moveable disk portions being dynamically keyed to said first shaft using a plurality of balls positioned within a substantially cylindrical race formed between said moveable disk portions and said first shaft.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission has dual driving connections extending between a first shaft and a second shaft. The driving connections generally include a drive pulley, a driven pulley and a belt. The pulleys each comprise a fixed portion and an axially moveable portion. Movement between the two portions changes an effective diameter of the pulley. The moveable portions of the drive pulley are positioned next to one another on the first shaft and the moveable portions are interposed between the fixed portions of the drive pulleys. The fixed portions of the driven pulleys, on the other hand, are interposed between the moveable portions. The driven pulleys are free to rotate relative to the second shaft. A differential is positioned between the fixed portions of the driven pulleys, connects the two fixed portions and transfers the torque from the driven pulleys to the second shaft.
73 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, at least a portion of each of said moveable disk portions being axially moveable between said first shaft and at least a portion of each corresponding fixed disk portion of said fixed disk portions, said at least a portion of each of said moveable disk portions being dynamically keyed to said first shaft using a plurality of balls positioned within a substantially cylindrical race formed between said moveable disk portions and said first shaft.
- 7. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, a piston being connected to each of said moveable disk portions, said stationary disk portions being interposed between said piston and said moveable disk portion of each of said two first pulleys, a chamber at least partially defined by said stationary disk portion and said piston, and axial movement of said moveable disk portion relative to said stationary disk portion being at least partially controlled by a pressure within said chamber.
-
17. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, a second shaft extending generally parallel to said first shaft, two second pulleys being journalled on said second shaft, a pair of belts connecting said two second pulleys to said two first pulleys, a differential positioned between said two second pulleys, said two second pulleys each comprising a fixed pulley half, said differential being connected to said two fixed pulley halves and said differential being connected to a chain drive.
-
18. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, a second shaft extending generally parallel to said first shaft, two second pulleys being journalled on said second shaft, a pair of belts connecting said two second pulleys to said two first pulleys and said first shaft and said second shaft each forming a flow lumen for hydraulic fluids.
- 19. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first shaft supporting two first pulleys, said two first pulleys each comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion whereby axial movement of said moveable disk portions along said first shaft relative to said fixed disk portions changes an effective diameter of said two first pulleys, said moveable disk portions of said two first pulleys being interposed along said first shaft between said fixed disk portions of said two first pulleys, a synchronizing member connecting said moveable disk portions such that the effective diameters of said two first pulleys are maintained substantially equal by said synchronizing member, a second shaft extending generally parallel to said first shaft, two second pulleys being journalled on said second shaft, a pair of belts connecting said two second pulleys to said two first pulleys and said two first pulleys and said two second pulleys being hydraulically actuated.
- 27. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first belt assembly and second belt assembly extending between a first shaft and a second shaft, said first belt assembly comprising a first first-shaft pulley, a first second-shaft pulley and a first belt, said second belt assembly comprising a second first-shaft pulley, a second second-shaft pulley and a second belt, said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley each comprising a moveable first-shaft sheave portion and a fixed first-shaft sheave portion, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being capable of movement along an axis of said first shaft, said first second-shaft pulley and said second second-shaft pulley each comprising a fixed second-shaft sheave portion and a moveable second-shaft sheave portion, said moveable second-shaft sheave portion being capable of movement along an axis of said second shaft, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being connected by a mechanical linkage to equalize said movement along said axis of said first shaft between said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley, a differential connecting said fixed second-shaft sheave portions to said second shaft, and a piston being attached to each moveable first-shaft sheave portion, said piston propelling said moveable first-shaft sheave portion along said axis of said first shaft relative to said fixed first-shaft sheave portion.
- 31. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first belt assembly and second belt assembly extending between a first shaft and a second shaft, said first belt assembly comprising a first first-shaft pulley, a first second-shaft pulley and a first belt, said second belt assembly comprising a second first-shaft pulley, a second second-shaft pulley and a second belt, said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley each comprising a moveable first-shaft sheave portion and a fixed first-shaft sheave portion, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being capable of movement along an axis of said first shaft, said first second-shaft pulley and said second second-shaft pulley each comprising a fixed second-shaft sheave portion and a moveable second-shaft sheave portion, said moveable second-shaft sheave portion being capable of movement along an axis of said second shaft, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being connected by a mechanical linkage to equalize said movement along said axis of said first shaft between said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley, a differential connecting said fixed second-shaft sheave portions to said second shaft, and a piston being attached to each moveable second-shaft sheave portion, said piston propelling said moveable second-shaft sheave portion along said axis of said second shaft relative to said fixed second-shaft sheave portion.
-
35. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first belt assembly and second belt assembly extending between a first shaft and a second shaft, said first belt assembly comprising a first first-shaft pulley, a first second-shaft pulley and a first belt, said second belt assembly comprising a second first-shaft pulley, a second second-shaft pulley and a second belt, said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley each comprising a moveable first-shaft sheave portion and a fixed first-shaft sheave portion, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being capable of movement along an axis of said first shaft, said first second-shaft pulley and said second second-shaft pulley each comprising a fixed second-shaft sheave portion and a moveable second-shaft sheave portion, said moveable second-shaft sheave portion being capable of movement along an axis of said second shaft, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being connected by a mechanical linkage to equalize said movement along said axis of said first shaft between said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley, a differential connecting said fixed second-shaft sheave portions to said second shaft, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being dynamically splined to said first shaft and a set of balls captured within a race defined at an interface between said moveable first-shaft sheave portions and said first shaft forming the dynamically splined connection.
- 36. A continuously variable transmission comprising a first belt assembly and second belt assembly extending between a first shaft and a second shaft, said first belt assembly comprising a first first-shaft pulley, a first second-shaft pulley and a first belt, said second belt assembly comprising a second first-shaft pulley, a second second-shaft pulley and a second belt, said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley each comprising a moveable first-shaft sheave portion and a fixed first-shaft sheave portion, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being capable of movement along an axis of said first shaft, said first second-shaft pulley and said second second-shaft pulley each comprising a fixed second-shaft sheave portion and a moveable second-shaft sheave portion, said moveable second-shaft sheave portion being capable of movement along an axis of said second shaft, said moveable first-shaft sheave portions being connected by a mechanical linkage to equalize said movement along said axis of said first shaft between said first first-shaft pulley and said second first-shaft pulley, a differential connecting said fixed second-shaft sheave portions to said second shaft, said fixed first-shaft sheave portions and said moveable first-shaft sheave portions are secured together for rotation while allowing relative axial movement and said fixed first-shaft sheave portions including a slot and said moveable drive sheave portions including a shaft that translates within said slot.
- 38. An axially expandable pulley arrangement comprising a first pulley disk and a second pulley disk, said first disk comprising a first front face, a first back face and a first hub, said second disk comprising a second front face, a second back face and a second hub, said second hub extending at least partially within said first hub, said first back face including a circumferential flange, a piston being positioned within said flange and being slidably connected to said first back face, said piston also being connected to said second hub through an aperture defined in said first hub such that movement of said piston relative to said first pulley disk results in corresponding movement of said second pulley disk relative to said first pulley disk.
Specification