Electromotive drives
First Claim
1. A variable speed transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a plurality of balls distributed radially about the longitudinal axis, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;
an input disc in contact with the balls;
a rotatable idler coaxial about the longitudinal axis and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls;
an electric stator coupled to the rotatable idler;
an electric rotor coupled to the input disc; and
wherein the electric stator and the electric rotor are configured to rotate in opposite directions on axes coincident with the longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The transmission provides multiple powerpaths and can be combined with electrical components to provide motor/generator functionality, which reduces the overall size and complexity of the motor and transmission compared to when they are constructed separately. In one embodiment, rotatable components of a continuously variable transmission are coupled separately to an electrical rotor and to an electrical stator so that the rotor and stator rotate simultaneously in opposite directions relative to one another. In other embodiments, an electrical rotor is configured to transfer torque to or from a disc that is in contact with a plurality of speed adjusters, while an electrical stator is configured to transfer torque to a shaft that is operationally coupled to the speed adjusters via an idler.
345 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A variable speed transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a plurality of balls distributed radially about the longitudinal axis, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates; an input disc in contact with the balls; a rotatable idler coaxial about the longitudinal axis and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; an electric stator coupled to the rotatable idler; an electric rotor coupled to the input disc; and wherein the electric stator and the electric rotor are configured to rotate in opposite directions on axes coincident with the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A variable speed transmission, comprising:
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a plurality of balls distributed radially about a longitudinal axis, each ball having a tiltable axis about which the ball rotates; an input disc in contact with each of the balls; an output disc in contact with each of the balls; an idler rotatable about the longitudinal axis and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; an electrical stator rotatable about the longitudinal axis and configured to receive electricity, the electrical stator attached to the idler, wherein the electrical stator transfers power to the idler; and an electrical rotor rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the electrical rotor attached to the input disc, wherein the electrical rotor is configured to transfer power to the input disc.
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Specification