Continuously variable transmission

• US 6,419,608 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Motion Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US09/695,757
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 475/189, 475/192, 475/195, 476/37, 476/38
• US Class Current: 475/189
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/08 involving eccentrically- mounted or elliptically-shaped driving or driven wheel; with expansible driving or driven wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/664 Friction gearings

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.

Claims

1. A continuously variable transmission comprising:

a rotatable driving member;

three or more power adjusters, wherein each of the power adjusters respectively rotates about an axis of rotation that is centrally located within each of the power adjusters;

a support member providing a support surface that is in frictional contact with each of the power adjusters, wherein the support member rotates about an axis that is centrally located within the support member;

at least one platform for actuating axial movement of the support member and for actuating a shift in the axis of rotation of the power adjusters, wherein the platform provides a convex surface;

at least one stationary support that is non-rotatable about the axis of red rotation that is defined by the support member, wherein the at least one stationary support provides a concave surface; and

a plurality of spindle supports, wherein each of the spindle supports are slidingly engaged with the convex surface of the platform and the concave surface of the stationary support, and wherein each of the spindle supports adjust the axis of rotation in response to the axial movement of the platform.

2. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a uniform distance from the axis of rotation of the support member.

3. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising two bearings, each bearing contacting one of the ends of the support member.

4. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a plurality of spindles centrally located respectively within each of the power adjusters; and

wherein each of the spindle supports comprise a bore for receiving one end of one of the spindles.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein each spindle support comprises at least one wheel that is slidingly engaged to the convex surface of the platform.

6. The transmission of claim 3, wherein each spindle support comprises at least one stationary support roller for slidingly engaging the concave surface of the stationary support.

7. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising at least one outwardly extendable weight for actuating an adjustment in the axis of rotation of each of the power adjusters.

8. The transmission of claim 7, additionally comprising a rotating device, wherein the at least one outwardly extendable weight operably is connected to the rotating device, wherein the speed of the rotating device is controlled by the transmission, and wherein the spatial positioning of the at least one outwardly extendable weight is affected by the speed of rotation of the rotating device.

9. The transmission of claim 8, additionally comprising:

a rotating annular bearing race that is operably connected to the extendable weight;

a non-rotating annular bearing race; and

an annular bearing that is in frictionally contact with the rotating annular bearing race and the non-rotating annular bearing race.

10. The transmission of claim 9, additionally comprising a plurality of spindle cables, the spindle cables attached at a first end to the non-rotating annular bearing race and at a second end operatively attached to respective spindles.

11. The transmission of claim 10, additionally comprising a plurality of weight cables, the weight cables attached at a first end to the rotating annular bearing race and at a second end attached to the at least one outwardly extendable weight.

12. The transmission of claim 11, additionally comprising a plurality of spindle pulleys, the spindle pulleys positioned over the spindles and supporting the spindle cables.

13. The transmission of claim 12, additionally comprising at least one weight tension member, the weight tension member operatively connected to the one weight, the weight tension member biasing the at least one weight radially away from the transmission.

14. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising a rotatable hub shell, wherein each of the power adjusters are in frictional contact with the hub shell.

15. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising a bearing disc having a plurality of inclined ramps for actuating the rotation of the driving member.

16. The transmission of claim 15, additionally comprising:

a hub cap; and

a hub cap bearing, wherein the hub cap bearing is in frictional contact with both the hub cap and the bearing disc.

17. The transmission of claim 16, wherein the hub cap bearing absorbs axial force generated by the ramps of the bearing disc and prevents axial movement of the bearing disc.

18. The transmission of claim 16, additionally comprising a rotatable bearing cage, wherein the rotatable bearing cage maintains the spacing of a plurality of bearings that are in frictional contact with the bearing disc.

19. The transmission of claim 18, further comprising a spring, the spring attached at a first end to the bearing cage, the spring attached at a second end to either the bearing disc or the rotatable driving member, the spring preloading the ramp bearings up the ramps.

20. The transmission of claim 15, additionally comprising a plurality of ramp rollers, the ramp rollers positioned on the ramps between the rotatable driving member and the bearing disc.

21. The transmission of claim 15, additionally comprising:

a screw that is coaxially and rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member or the bearing disc; and

a nut that, if the screw is attached to the rotatable driving member, is coaxially and rigidly attached to the bearing disc, or if the screw is rigidly attached to the bearing disc, coaxially and rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member.

22. The transmission of claim 21, wherein the inclined ramps of the bearing disc have a higher lead than the screw.

23. The transmission of claim 21, wherein the screw is a left hand screw and wherein the bearing disc rotates clockwise.

24. The transmission of claim 21, wherein the screw is a right hand screw and wherein the bearing disc rotates counter clockwise.

25. The transmission of claim 20, wherein in response to the cessation of rotation of the bearing disc, the power adjusters wind the screw or nut that is rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member away from the power adjusters, thereby causing the transmission to disengage.

26. The transmission of claim 15, additionally comprising a coiled spring for biasing the rotatable driving member against the power adjusters.

27. The transmission of claim 15, additionally comprising:

at least one lock pawl; and

at least one lock pawl ratchet, wherein the lock pawl ratchet is rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member, the at least one lock pawl operably attached to the coiled spring.

28. The transmission of claim 27, wherein the lock pawl ratchet rotates at about twice the speed of the at least one lock pawl when the bearing disc is not rotating and when the rotatable driving member is rotating.

29. The transmission of claim 27, additionally comprising:

at least one release pawl; and

at least own release pawl ratchet that is operably attached to the at least one lock pawl, wherein the release pawl ratchet is rigidly attached to the bearing disc.

30. The transmission of claim 29, wherein the release pawl ratchet rotates at substantially twice the speed of the at least one release pawl when the rotatable driving member is not rotating and the bearing disc is rotating.

31. The transmission of claim 29, wherein subsequent to disengagement of the rotatable driving member from the power adjusters and in response to the rotation of the bearing disc, the release pawl ratchet engages the at least one release pawl, which disengages the at least one lock pawl, which releases the coiled spring to force the rotatable driving member against the power adjusters.

32. The transmission of claim 27, wherein in response to the separation of the driving member and the bearing disc, the lock pawl engages the lock pawl ratchet thereby preventing the coiled spring from biasing the rotatable driving member against the power adjusters.

33. The transmission of claim 27, wherein the at least one lock pawl is operably attached to the coiled spring at substantially the middle coil of the coiled spring.

34. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a rotatable handlegrip having ratchet teeth; and

a rotating clamp with ratchet teeth in ratchet connection with the handlegrip.

35. The transmission of claim 34, wherein the ratchet teeth of the rotating grip face a first direction and wherein the ratchet teeth of the rotating clamp face a second direction.

36. The transmission of claim 34, wherein rotation of the rotating grip in a first direction rotates the rotating clamp, and wherein rotating of the grip in a second and opposite direction does not rotate the rotating clamp.

37. The transmission of claim 34, additionally comprising:

a non-rotating grip; and

a non-rotating clamp, wherein the non-rotating clamp and non-rotating grip preventing axial movement of the rotating grip and the rotating clamp.

38. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a hollow shaft having at least one slot;

a sleeve that is slidingly and coaxially positioned over the hollow shaft;

a pin contacting the sleeve through the slot in the hollow shaft; and

wherein the platform contacts the sleeve and moves axially in response to axial movement of the sleeve and pin.

39. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary support includes two stationary supports, wherein each of the stationary supports are rigidly connected to each other by a plurality of spacers.

40. The transmission of claim 1, additionally comprising a rotatable driven member that is in frictional contact with each of the power adjusters.

41. The transmission of claim 40, additionally comprising a non-rotatable hub shell encasing the transmission.

42. A continuously variable transmission comprising:

a rotatable driving member;

three or more power adjusters, wherein each of the power adjusters respectively rotates about an axis of rotation that is respectively central to the power adjusters;

a support member providing a support surface that is in frictional contact with each of the power adjusters;

a rotatable driving member for rotating each of the power adjusters;

a bearing disc having a plurality of inclined ramps for actuating the rotation of the driving member;

a coiled spring for biasing the rotatable driving member against the power adjusters;

at least one lock pawl ratchet, wherein the lock pawl ratchet is rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member, wherein the at least one lock pawl is operably attached to the coiled spring; and

at least one lock pawl for locking the lock pawl ratchet in response to the rotatable driving member becoming disengaged from the power adjusters.

43. A continuously variable transmission comprising:

a rotatable driving member;

three or more power adjusters, wherein each of the power adjusters respectively rotates about an axis that is respectively central to each of the power adjusters;

a support member providing a support surface that is in frictional contact with each of the power adjusters, wherein the support member rotates about an axis that is centrally located within the support member;

a bearing disc having a plurality of inclined ramps for actuating the rotation of the driving member;

a screw that is coaxially and rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member or the bearing disc; and

a nut that, if the screw is attached to the rotatable driving member, is coaxially and rigidly attached to the bearing disc, or if the screw is rigidly attached to the bearing disc, coaxially and rigidly attached to the rotatable driving member, wherein the inclined ramps of the bearing disc have a higher lead than the screw.