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Continuously variable planetary gear set

  • US 7,217,215 B2
  • Filed: 02/03/2005
  • Issued: 05/15/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A power transfer assembly comprising:

  • a plurality of balls distributed radially about a longitudinal axis of the power transfer assembly, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;

    an input disc in contact with the balls;

    an output disc in contact with the balls;

    an idler coaxial and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the balls;

    a bearing disc mounted along the longitudinal axis and operationally coupled to the input disc;

    a fluid pressure drive device adapted to vary the contact force between the bearing disc and the input disc;

    a limiting member configured to limiting the axial displacement of the bearing disc;

    wherein the limiting member produces an elastic resistance against a direction of the displacement when there is no fluid pressure from the pressure drive device and the bearing disc receives an input torque; and

    an axial force generator adapted to generate a contact force between the input disc, the output disc, the balls and the idler,wherein the axial force generator comprises;

    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.

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