Continuously variable planetary gear set
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the plurality of balls arranged on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis;
a generally cylindrical idler in contact with the balls, the idler located radially inward of the balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis;
a shifter mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis, the shifter operably coupled to the idler;
a motor operably coupled to the shifter;
a motor controller configured to provide motor control signals to the motor;
a sensor for detecting a change in a system, said change motivating a change in a speed ratio of the CVT, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of said change to the motor controller; and
wherein said change comprises a change in the angular position or angular rotation of a shaft about the longitudinal axis.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
-
a longitudinal axis; a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the plurality of balls arranged on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a generally cylindrical idler in contact with the balls, the idler located radially inward of the balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; a shifter mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis, the shifter operably coupled to the idler; a motor operably coupled to the shifter; a motor controller configured to provide motor control signals to the motor; a sensor for detecting a change in a system, said change motivating a change in a speed ratio of the CVT, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of said change to the motor controller; and wherein said change comprises a change in the angular position or angular rotation of a shaft about the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
-
a longitudinal axis; a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the plurality of balls arranged on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a generally cylindrical idler in contact with the balls, the idler located radially inward of the balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; a plurality of legs configured to facilitate operably coupling the idler with the plurality of balls; a generally tubular shifter mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis, the shifter operably coupled to the idler; a motor operably coupled to the shifter to selectively cause an axial translation of the shifter, the motor mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis; a motor controller configured to provide motor control signals to the motor; a sensor coupled to the motor controller, said sensor capable of detecting a change in a system resulting in a desired change in a speed ratio of the CVT; and wherein said change comprises a change in the angular position or angular rotation of a shaft about the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
-
a longitudinal axis; a plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the plurality of balls arranged on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a generally cylindrical idler in contact with the balls, the idler located radially inward of the balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; a shifter mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis, the shifter operably coupled to the idler; a splined shaft coupled to the shifter; a non-rotatable, stationary shift ring coupled to the shifter; wherein the shifter comprises a flange operably coupled to the idler; and wherein the shifter comprises splines along at least a portion of an inner bore of the shifter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification