Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission, comprising:
- three or more spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a cylindrical hole extending through its center;
three or more cylindrical spindles, each spindle positioned in the hole of one power adjuster;
at least one stationary support with an aperture at its center;
a rotatable support member having first and second sides, the rotatable support member located between the power adjusters and frictionally engaged with the plurality of power adjusters, wherein the rotatable support member has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the rotatable support member is capable of axial movement, and wherein the rotatable support member has at least two areas that are bearing surfaces to control axial movement of the rotatable support member;
a first annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the first side of the support member;
a second annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the second side of the support member;
a first planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the first annular bearing is between the rotatable support member and the first planar platform;
a second planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the second annular bearing is between the rotatable support and the second planar platform; and
a ratio changer operably connected to the cylindrical spindles, wherein an adjustment in the ratio changer causes the cylindrical spindles to change their axes of rotation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission. The transmission includes a plurality of power adjusters, such as spherical balls, frictionally interposed between a driving and a driven member. The driving and the driven member are each rotatably disposed over a main shaft. The spherical balls are configured to rotate about a modifiable axis and thereby provide a continuously variable shifting capability by adjusting the ratio between the angular velocity of the driving member in relation to the driven member. The system includes automatic and manual shifting gearing for adjusting the speed of the transmission. The system also includes a support a support member which is rotatably disposed over the main shaft and frictionally engaged to each of the spherical balls.
318 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A continuously variable transmission, comprising:
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three or more spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a cylindrical hole extending through its center;
three or more cylindrical spindles, each spindle positioned in the hole of one power adjuster;
at least one stationary support with an aperture at its center;
a rotatable support member having first and second sides, the rotatable support member located between the power adjusters and frictionally engaged with the plurality of power adjusters, wherein the rotatable support member has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the rotatable support member is capable of axial movement, and wherein the rotatable support member has at least two areas that are bearing surfaces to control axial movement of the rotatable support member;
a first annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the first side of the support member;
a second annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the second side of the support member;
a first planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the first annular bearing is between the rotatable support member and the first planar platform;
a second planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the second annular bearing is between the rotatable support and the second planar platform; and
a ratio changer operably connected to the cylindrical spindles, wherein an adjustment in the ratio changer causes the cylindrical spindles to change their axes of rotation.
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2. A continuously variable transmission, comprising:
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a rotatable driving member;
three or more spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a cylindrical hole extending through its center;
three or more cylindrical spindles, each spindle positioned in the hole of one power adjuster;
a drive sleeve;
three or more ramped surfaces on the drive sleeve that face the rotatable driving member;
three or more rollers positioned to roll on the three or more ramped surfaces of the drive sleeve and also roll on the rotatable driving member;
a roller cage positioning the three or more rollers;
the three or more ramped surfaces of the drive sleeve configured so that when the three or more rollers rotate they compress the rotatable driving member against the three or more spherical power adjusters upon an increase in torque and decompress the rotatable driving member upon a decrease in torque;
a rotatable support member located between the power adjusters that has first and second sides, and is frictionally engaged with the three or more power adjusters, wherein the rotatable support member has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the rotatable support member is capable of axial movement, and wherein the rotatable support member has at least two areas that are bearing surfaces to control axial movement of the rotatable support member;
a first annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the first side of the support member;
a second annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the second side of the support member;
a first planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the first annular bearing is between the rotatable support member and the first planar platform;
a second planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the second annular bearings is between the rotatable support and the second planar platform;
at least one stationary support with an aperture at its center; and
wherein the rotatable support member, the first annular bearing, the second annular bearing, the first planar platform, and the second planar platform are all capable of simultaneous axial movement. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A continuously variable transmission, comprising:
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a shaft;
a rotatable driving member rotatably mounted over the shaft;
a rotatable driven member rotatably mounted over the shaft;
a plurality of spherical power adjusters frictionally interposed between the rotatable driving member and the rotatable driven member and adapted to transmit power from the rotatable driving member to the rotatable driven member, each power adjuster having a cylindrical hole extending through its center;
a plurality of cylindrical spindles, each spindle positioned in the hole of one power adjuster;
a rotatable support member located between the power adjusters and frictionally engaged with the plurality of power adjusters so that the power adjusters each are in frictional contact with each of the driving member, the driven member, and the rotatable support member;
a first annular bearing positioned on a first side of the support member;
a second annular bearing positioned on a second side of the support member;
at least one stationary support with an aperture at its center; and
a plurality of legs attached to the at least one stationary support. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A continuously variable transmission, comprising:
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a rotatable driving member;
three or more spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a cylindrical hole extending through its center;
three or more cylindrical spindles, each spindle positioned in the hole of one power adjuster;
at least one stationary support with an aperture at its center;
a rotatable support member located between the power adjusters having first and second sides, and frictionally engaged with the plurality of power adjusters, wherein the rotatable support member has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the rotatable support member is capable of axial movement, and wherein the rotatable support member has at least two areas that are bearing surfaces to control axial movement of the rotatable support member;
a first annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the first side of the support member;
a second annular bearing capable of axial movement, positioned on the second side of the support member;
a first planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the first annular bearing is between the rotatable support member and the first planar platform;
a second planar platform capable of axial movement, positioned so that the second annular bearing is between the rotatable support and the second planar platform;
a shifting member, having an end that extends outside of the transmission, that is positioned along the axis of the rotatable support member and is operably engaged with the rotatable support member; and
wherein an adjustment in the position of the shifting member causes the rotatable support member, the first annular bearing, the second annular bearing, the first planar platform, and the second planar platform to all move simultaneously and a substantially equal distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification