Continuously variable transmission

• US 7,762,919 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Poth, Wesley R., Thomassy, Fernand A., Pohl, Brad P., Simister, Matthew P., Armstrong, Oronde J., Nichols, Jon M., Smithson, Robert A., Dawe, Daniel J., Lohr, Charles B., Miller, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/243,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 476/40, 476/42, 476/45, 476/61, 476/63, 476/65, 476/8, 476/36, 476/38, 74/56, 74/57
• US Class Current: 476/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 23/00 Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/00 Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like cycle chain guards B62J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/50 Gearings providing a continuous range of gear ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/503 in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49462 Gear making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49467 Gear shaping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.

Claims

1. An input torque system for a continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, the input torque system comprising:

an input shaft having a splined flange;

a torsion disc having a splined bore;

wherein the splined flange and splined bore are adapted to couple together operationally to transmit torque from the input shaft to the torsion disc; and

a first load cam disc coupled to the torsion disc;

a plurality of rollers coupled to the first load cam disc;

a second load cam disc coupled to the plurality of rollers;

wherein the plurality of rollers is positioned axially between the first load cam disc and the second load cam disc;

an input disc coupled to the second load cam disc, the input disc having a plurality of lubrication ports arranged on an outer periphery of the input disc; and

a plurality of balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis, each ball in contact with the input disc, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the splined flange comprises at least two splines.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the splined flange comprises a key seat for receiving a key adapted to transfer torque from the input shaft.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the splined bore comprises at least two splines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the torsion disc comprises a recess for receiving a bearing race.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a bearing race is integral with the torsion disc.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the rollers are spherical.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the rollers are cylindrical.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first load cam disc comprises ramps.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second load cam disc comprises ramps.