Continuously variable transmission apparatus

• US 7,217,216 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Inoue, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US11/453,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060234823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 475214-219
• US Class Current: 475/215
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0886 with switching means, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/086 CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission apparatus, has: an input shaft; a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission; a rotation transmission shaft; first, second and third planetary-gear-type transmissions; a first power transmission mechanism; a second power transmission mechanism; a third power transmission mechanism; and, a switching mechanism, wherein the second sun gear and one of the first and third sun gears are rotated together with the rotation transmission shaft to thereby execute the power transmission through the rotation transmission shaft and one of the first and second planetary-gear-type transmissions, and, in a state where the power transmission through the third planetary-gear-type transmission is cut off, in accordance with the control of the transmission ratio of the toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, the output shaft is stopped while the input shaft is rotating.

Claims

1. A continuously variable transmission apparatus, comprising:

an input shaft;

a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission disposed concentrically with the input shaft, including an input portion and an output portion and using the input shaft as the input portion thereof;

a rotation transmission shaft disposed in parallel to the input shaft;

first, second and third planetary-gear-type transmissions disposed concentrically with each other on the periphery of the rotation transmission shaft;

the first planetary-gear-type transmission including a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a plurality of first planetary gears meshingly engaged with the first sun and ring gears, and a first carrier supporting the respective first planetary gears so as to be rotated;

the second planetary-gear-type transmission including a second sun gear, a second ring gear, a plurality of second planetary gears meshingly engaged with the second sun and ring gears, and a second carrier supporting the respective second planetary gears so as to be rotated;

the third planetary-gear-type transmission including a third sun gear, a third ring gear, a plurality of third planetary gears meshingly engaged with the third sun and ring gears, and a third carrier supporting the respective third planetary gears so as to be rotated;

an output shaft disposed concentrically with the rotation transmission shaft;

a first power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the input shaft to the first carrier constituting the first planetary-gear-type transmission;

a second power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation between the output portion of the toroidal-type continuously variable transmission and the rotation transmission shaft;

a third power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the input shaft to the third carrier constituting the third planetary-gear-type transmission;

a low-speed clutch for permitting and prohibiting the transmission of the power between the input shaft and the first planetary-gear-type transmission; and

,

a high-speed clutch for permitting and prohibiting the transmission of the power between the input shaft and the third carrier,

wherein the second and third sun gears are rotated together with the rotation transmission shaft, the first and second ring gears constituting the first and second planetary-gear-type transmissions respectively are connected with each other, the second carrier constituting the second planetary-gear-type transmission is connected with not only the output shaft but also the third ring gear constituting the third planetary-gear-type transmission, and, in a state where the low-speed clutch is connected and the connection of the high-speed clutch is cut off, in accordance with the control of the transmission ratio of the toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, the output shaft is stopped while the input shaft is rotating.