Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
- a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to provide rotational force to the drive disk;
at least two axial force generators, the axial force generators located between the drive disk and the bearing disk, each axial force generator configured to apply a component of an axial force to the drive disk, thereby improving the contact of the drive disk and the speed adjusters.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to provide rotational force to the drive disk;
at least two axial force generators, the axial force generators located between the drive disk and the bearing disk, each axial force generator configured to apply a component of an axial force to the drive disk, thereby improving the contact of the drive disk and the speed adjusters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation and located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to provide rotational force to the drive disk;
a disengagement mechanism positioned between the bearing disk and the drive disk and adapted to disengage the drive disk from the speed adjusters. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
an driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on the speed adjusters;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to transfer rotational force to the drive disk; and
a support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis contacting a third point on the speed adjusters and adapted to move toward the slower rotating of the drive disk and the output disk. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis contacting a third point on the speed adjusters;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis adapted to transfer rotational force to the drive disk; and
a linkage subassembly having a hook and a latch adapted to engage the drive disk and the bearing disk. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of spherical speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of generally cylindrical spindles having two ends, wherein one spindle is positioned in the bore of each speed adjuster;
a plurality of spindle supports having a platform end and spindle end, wherein two spindle supports are provided for each spindle, and wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles;
a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is rotatably attached to the spindle end of each spindle support;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster; and
annular first and second stationary supports each having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters, each of the first and second stationary supports also having a concave surface on the first side, and wherein the first stationary support is located adjacent to the drive disk and the second stationary support is located adjacent to the driven disk. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
a plurality of platform wheels rotatably attached to the platform end of the spindle supports;
first and second platforms, which are generally annular disks coaxial with the longitudinal axis and positioned on either side of the support member, and each platform having a platform side facing away from the support member, wherein the platforms each have a convex surface on their platform side, and wherein each of the platform wheels is configured to rollingly engage one of the convex surfaces such that axial movement of the platforms causes a shift of the transmission.
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54. The transmission of claim 53, wherein each of the platform wheels is affixed to the platform end of one of the plurality of spindle supports in a slot formed in the platform end of the spindle support that is adapted to house a platform wheel.
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55. The transmission of claim 42, wherein each spindle support has at least three holes formed therethrough such that each spindle support is adapted to support one of the spindles, one of the stationary support wheels and one of the platform wheels.
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56. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of spherical speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of generally cylindrical spindles having two ends, wherein one spindle is positioned in the bore of each speed adjuster;
a plurality of spindle supports having a platform end and a spindle end, wherein two spindle supports are provided for each spindle, and wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles;
a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is rotatably attached to the spindle end of each spindle support;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to transfer rotational force to the drive disk;
a first stationary support having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side that faces away from the speed adjusters and having a concave surface on the first side;
a second stationary support having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side that faces away from the speed adjusters and having a concave surface on the first side, and;
a coiled spring positioned between the bearing disk and the drive disk adapted to engage the drive disk with the speed adjusters upon supply of an input rotation into the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
a generally tubular split shaft coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the transmission and having a threaded end;
a rod having first and second ends and located coaxially within the split shaft;
a worm screw attached to the first end of the rod and having a set of external threads;
a sleeve, for changing a transmission ratio of the transmission, having a set of internal threads that fit around and engage the external threads of the worm screw; and
a shifting tube that engages the second end of the rod and has a set of internal threads that fit over and engage the threaded end of the split shaft, wherein a rotation of the shifting tube causes an axial movement of the sleeve and a corresponding change in the transmission ratio.
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60. The transmission of claim 59, further comprising a worm spring adapted to bias the rotation of the rod.
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61. The transmission of claim 60, wherein the worm spring comprises:
a conical spring having a first end and a second end, wherein the worm spring fits coaxially over the longitudinal axis of the transmission and is attached at the first end to the rod and is attached at the second end to a stationary object.
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62. The transmission of claim 59, further comprising a remote shifter, comprising:
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a rotatable handlegrip;
a tether having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is engaged with the handlegrip and the second end is engaged with the shifting tube, and wherein, the handlegrip is adapted to apply a tension to the tether, and wherein the tether is adapted to actuate a rotation of the shifting tube upon application of a tension.
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63. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to transfer rotational force to the drive disk at least two axial force generators, the axial force generators located between the drive disk and the bearing disk, wherein each axial force generator is adapted to apply an axial force to the drive disk, and;
a generally cylindrical drive shaft having an outer diameter surface, wherein the drive shaft is configured to transfer torque to the bearing disk. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
a generally tubular grooved screw, coaxial with the longitudinal axis, that has a threaded outer surface, and having a longitudinally grooved inner surface, and having a first end facing the speed adjusters that has a bearing race on an inner diameter thereof; and
an annular bearing positioned in operable contact and coaxial with the race on the first end of the grooved screw and located axially adjacent to the first end of the grooved screw.
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66. The transmission of claim 65, wherein the bearing is adapted for axial movement.
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67. The transmission of claim 65, wherein the grooved screw has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the drive shaft and fits around the drive shaft such that the bearing provides support to the grooved screw and the drive shaft.
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68. The transmission of claim 65, wherein the grooved screw is capable of rotating relative to the drive shaft.
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69. The transmission of claim 65, wherein the splines of the drive shaft are adapted to engage the grooves and thereby rotate the grooved screw.
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70. A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;
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a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters;
a support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and positioned axially between the speed adjusters;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
a set of annular bearings located between the drive disk and the bearing disk that transmit rotational and axial force from the bearing disk to the drive disk and are held in an annular and radial orientation by a bearing cage; and
disengagement mechanism positioned between the bearing disk and the drive disk adapted to disconnect the drive disk from the speed adjusters, the disengagement mechanism comprising;
at least one toothed wheel;
at least one pawl adapted to engage the at least one toothed wheel and thereby stop rotation of the at least one toothed wheel;
at least one lever adapted to engage the at least one pawl with the at least one toothed wheel; and
a preloader, having first and second ends, that is a resilient clamping support for the at least one toothed wheel and at least one pawl, wherein the preloader is positioned coaxially around the longitudinal axis of the transmission, and wherein the first end of the preloader supports at least one of the at least one toothed wheels, engages the bearing cage and is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis at a different rotational speed than the second end of the preloader, which second end supports at least one of the at least one pawl, thereby allowing relative motion between the at least one of the at least one pawl and the at least one of the at least one toothed wheel allowing engagement thereof, which prevents the drive disk from engaging the speed adjusters until an input force is applied to the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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Specification