Continuously variable transmission system for vehicle

• US 6,494,805 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shibasaki, Kunitoshi, Ooyama, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Sherry
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDELNOUR, DENNIS J
• Application Number:
  US09/912,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 475/207, 475/211, 475/214, 475/215, 475/216, 475/218
• US Class Current: 475/207
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0886 with switching means, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/086 CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member

Abstract

An engine is connected to a sun gear of a planetary gear train via a toroidal type continuously variable transmission. Driven wheels of a vehicle are connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear train. The sun gear and the ring gear are connected to each other by a first clutch. A shifter can connect a second clutch connected to the engine either to a carrier of the planetary gear train or the driven wheels. When the vehicle is started when a failure of the electronic central system has occurred, by engaging the first and second clutches with predetermined engagement forces while the second clutch is connected to the carrier by the shifter, change of the ratio of the toroidal type continuously variable transmission beyond either the LOW ratio or the OD ratio is prevented so as to avoid generating an excessive load.

Claims

1. A continuously variable transmission system for a vehicle comprising:

a continuously variable transmission having an input member into which a torque of an engine is input and an output member to change the speed of rotation of the input member and to output the rotation;

a planetary gear train having a first element, a second element and a third element, the first element being connected to the output member of the continuously variable transmission and the second element being connected to driven wheels of the vehicle;

a first clutch to engage the first element of the planetary gear train with the second element thereof;

a second clutch whose input side is connected to the engine; and

a shifter that provides a connection between the output side of the second clutch and the third element of the planetary gear train when the vehicle travels in a forward direction and a connection between the output side of the second clutch and the driven wheels when the vehicle travels in the reverse direction.