Continuously variable planetary gear set
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transmission comprising:
- a shaft;
a plurality of power adjusters distributed radially about the shaft, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;
an input disc in contact with the power adjusters;
an output disc in contact with the power adjusters;
an idler coaxial with and rotatable about the shaft, the idler in contact with the power adjusters;
a thrust washer coaxial with the idler, the washer having a first side facing the input disc and having a set of thrust ramps formed on the first side;
a set of thrust-receiving ramps formed on the input disc facing the thrust washer; and
a plurality of thrust elements in contact with the thrust ramps and the thrust-receiving ramps; and
a ball spline structure having ball spline units that connect the shaft to one of the input or output discs, each ball spline structure having a ball gripped by a pair of spline grooves.
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Abstract
A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.
318 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A transmission comprising:
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a shaft;
a plurality of power adjusters distributed radially about the shaft, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;an input disc in contact with the power adjusters; an output disc in contact with the power adjusters; an idler coaxial with and rotatable about the shaft, the idler in contact with the power adjusters; a thrust washer coaxial with the idler, the washer having a first side facing the input disc and having a set of thrust ramps formed on the first side; a set of thrust-receiving ramps formed on the input disc facing the thrust washer; and a plurality of thrust elements in contact with the thrust ramps and the thrust-receiving ramps; and a ball spline structure having ball spline units that connect the shaft to one of the input or output discs, each ball spline structure having a ball gripped by a pair of spline grooves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of manufacturing a transmission, the method comprising:
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providing a shaft; arranging a plurality of power adjusters radially about the shaft, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis about which it rotates; providing an input disc adapted to contact the power adjusters; providing an output disc adapted to contact the power adjusters; mounting an idler coaxially the shaft, the idler adapted to contact the power adjusters; providing a thrust washer coaxial with the idler, the washer having a first side facing the input disc and having a set of thrust ramps formed on the first side;
providing a set of thrust-receiving ramps formed on the input disc facing the thrust washer;
providing a plurality of thrust elements in contact with the thrust ramps and the thrust-receiving ramps; andproviding a ball spline structure having ball spline units that connect the shaft to one of the input or output discs, each ball spline structure having a ball gripped by a pair of spline groove. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification