Toroidal-type continuously variable transmission

• US 6,805,654 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Nishii, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/193,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 476/40, 476/42, 476/46, 476/8
• US Class Current: 476/40
• 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 57/043 within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/049 of the toroid type

Abstract

The present toroidal-type continuously variable transmission comprises an oil passage formed in an input shaft so as to extend in the axial direction of the input shaft, a plurality of ball spline grooves formed in the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft so as to be spaced from one another at a given interval in the peripheral direction of the input shaft, a plurality of oil grooves not only for connecting together the ball spline grooves but also for guiding lubricating oil along the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft, and two oil holes 1a formed in the input shaft 1 for allowing the oil grooves and oil passage to communicate with each other.

Claims

1. A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, comprising:

an input shaft into which a rotational force is input and including an oil passage formed in a center portion thereof so as to extend along an axial direction thereof;

an input side disk rotating integrally with the input shaft;

an output side disk disposed concentric with and opposed to the input side disk;

a ball spline for supporting the input side disk disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft, the ball spline including a plurality of ball spline grooves formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to be spaced from one another at a given interval in the peripheral direction thereof; and

a plurality of oil grooves for connecting together the ball spline grooves,

wherein the input shaft includes an oil hole for allowing the oil grooves and the oil passage to communicate with each other.

2. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil hole formed in the input shaft includes two oil holes, and the two oil holes respectively extend along the diameter direction of the input shaft toward their respective ones of the oil grooves and are formed so as to be opposed to and spaced from each other at an angular interval of 180°

in the peripheral direction of the input shaft.

3. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the oil grooves is formed such that the bottom edge portion thereof has a given value of curvature.

4. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 1, wherein the oil grooves are disposed around the whole circumferential surface of the input shaft.

5. A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, comprising:

an input shaft into which a rotational force is input;

an input side disk rotating integrally with the input shaft;

an output side disk disposed concentric with and opposed to the input side disk; and

a ball spline for supporting the input side disk disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft;

wherein the input shaft includes an oil passage formed in a center portion thereof so as to extend along an axial direction thereof, a plurality of ball spline grooves formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to be spaced from one another at a given interval in the peripheral direction thereof, a plurality of oil grooves formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof respectively for connecting together the two mutually adjoining ones of the ball spline grooves, and an oil hole for allowing the oil grooves and the oil passage to communicate with each other.

6. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 5, wherein the oil hole formed in the input shaft is composed of two oil holes, and the two oil holes respectively extend along the diameter direction of the input shaft toward their respective ones of oil grooves and are formed so as to opposed to and spaced from each other at an angular interval of 180°

in the peripheral direction of the input shaft.

7. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the oil grooves is formed such that the bottom edge portion thereof has a given value of curvature.

8. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 5, wherein the oil grooves are disposed around the whole circumferential surface of the input shaft.

9. A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, comprising:

an input shaft into which a rotational force is input;

an input side disk rotating integrally with the input shaft;

an output side disk disposed concentric with and opposed to the input side disk; and

a ball spline for supporting the input side disk disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft;

wherein the input shaft includes an oil passage formed in a center portion thereof so as to extend along an axial direction thereof, and a plurality of ball spline grooves formed in the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to be spaced from one another at a given interval in the peripheral direction thereof;

the input side disk includes a plurality of ball spline grooves formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof and a plurality of oil grooves formed in the inner peripheral surface thereof respectively for connecting together the two mutually adjoining ones of the ball spline grooves; and

the input shaft further includes an oil hole for allowing the oil grooves and the oil passage to communicate with each other.

10. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 9, wherein the oil hole formed in the input shaft includes three oil holes formed spaced from one another at an angular interval of 120°

in the peripheral direction of the input shaft.

11. The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission as set forth in claim 9, wherein the oil grooves are disposed around the whole circumferential surface of the input disk.