Continuously variable transmission

• US 7,074,155 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US11/005,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 475/189, 475/192, 475/195, 476/37, 476/38
• US Class Current: 476/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/00 Transmissions characterised by the use of interengaging toothed wheels or frictionally-engaging wheels with roller engaging the periphery of ground wheel B62M13/00
• 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 roller traction transmission comprising:

a rotatable driving member mounted on a shaft;

a plurality of power adjusters in frictional contact with the driving member;

a rotatable support member mounted on the shaft, capable of axial movement along the shaft, and in frictional contact with the power adjusters; and

a platform positioned on one end of the support member and adapted to move axially along the shaft with the support member.

2. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the driving member comprises a disk.

3. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the power adjusters comprise spherical rollers.

4. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a substantially cylindrical surface.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a convex surface.

6. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable driven member mounted on the shaft and in frictional contact with the power adjusters.

7. The transmission of claim 6, wherein the driven member comprises a disk.

8. The transmission of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of spindle supports slidingly engaged with the convex surface, wherein at least one spindle support engages a spindle of a power adjuster.

9. A roller traction transmission comprising:

a rotatable driving disk mounted on a shaft;

a plurality of power adjusters in frictional contact with the driving disk;

a rotatable driven disk mounted on the shaft and in frictional contact with the power adjusters;

a rotatable support member mounted on the shaft, capable of axial movement along the shaft, and in frictional contact with the power adjusters; and

a first platform positioned on a first end of the support member and adapted to move axially along the shaft with the support member, wherein the first platform comprises a convex surface.

10. The transmission of claim 9, further comprising a second platform positioned on a second end of the support member and adapted to move axially along the shaft with the support member, wherein the second platform comprises a convex surface.

11. The transmission of claim 10, wherein the shaft comprises a hollow shaft having a slot.

12. The transmission of claim 10, further comprising a sleeve that is slidingly and coaxially positioned over the shaft.

13. The transmission of claim 12, further comprising a pin contacting the sleeve through the slot;

and

wherein the platforms move axially in response to axial movement of the sleeve and the pin.

14. The transmission of claim 9, wherein each of the power adjuster comprises a central bore.

15. The transmission of claim 14, further comprising one spindle for each bore.

16. The transmission of claim 15, further comprising two spindle supports for each spindle.

17. The transmission of claim 16, wherein each spindle support comprises a wheel slidingly engaged with the convex surface.

18. The transmission of claim 17, wherein each spindle support comprises a bore for receiving one end of a spindle.

19. The transmission of claim 18, further comprising at least one stationary support adapted to guide and support the spindle support.

20. The transmission of claim 19, wherein the stationary support comprises a plurality of grooves.