Continuously variable planetary gear set
First Claim
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1. A drive train comprising:
- a combustion engine;
a motor-generator;
a plurality of balls, each ball having an internal, axis of rotation configured to tilt in operation;
a first disc configured to facilitate torque transfer between the first disc and the balls, the first disc and the combustion engine configured to be selective coupled or uncoupled to one another;
a second disc configured to facilitate torque transfer between the second disc and the balls;
a rotatable cage configured to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the drive train, the rotatable cage configured to support the plurality of balls axially and radially, the rotatable cage configured to be selectively, operationally coupled or uncoupled to a load;
an idler located radially inward of the balls, the idler configured to facilitate torque transfer between the idler and the balls, the idler configured to be selectively, operationally coupled to the motor-generator;
split mode control means configured to add or subtract an output of the motor-generator to or from an output of the combustion engine such that the rotatable cage maintains a constant torque but is capable of changing its rotational speed to satisfy the output required by the load; and
wherein the split mode control means is further configured to control the tilt angle of the plurality of balls so that a rotational speed of the rotatable cage is capable of meeting a rotational speed required by the load.
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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.
320 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A drive train comprising:
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a combustion engine; a motor-generator; a plurality of balls, each ball having an internal, axis of rotation configured to tilt in operation; a first disc configured to facilitate torque transfer between the first disc and the balls, the first disc and the combustion engine configured to be selective coupled or uncoupled to one another; a second disc configured to facilitate torque transfer between the second disc and the balls; a rotatable cage configured to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the drive train, the rotatable cage configured to support the plurality of balls axially and radially, the rotatable cage configured to be selectively, operationally coupled or uncoupled to a load; an idler located radially inward of the balls, the idler configured to facilitate torque transfer between the idler and the balls, the idler configured to be selectively, operationally coupled to the motor-generator; split mode control means configured to add or subtract an output of the motor-generator to or from an output of the combustion engine such that the rotatable cage maintains a constant torque but is capable of changing its rotational speed to satisfy the output required by the load; and wherein the split mode control means is further configured to control the tilt angle of the plurality of balls so that a rotational speed of the rotatable cage is capable of meeting a rotational speed required by the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification