System for manipulating a continuously variable transmission

• US 7,882,762 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Barrow, Christopher, Mack, Henry, Tsotsoros, Stephen, Miggels, Stephen, Elhardt, Paul, Armstrong, Oronde
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Vicky A
• Application Number:
  US11/409,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070245846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 745/005, 745/016, 745/022, 116/28.1, 116/270, 116/296
• US Class Current: 74/501.6
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/08 involving eccentrically- mounted or elliptically-shaped driving or driven wheel; with expansible driving or driven wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/18 in which the end portion of the flexible member is laid along a curved surface of a pivoted member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/28 Bicycle propulsion, e.g. crankshaft and its support
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/52 in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20043 Transmission controlled by flexible cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2042 and hand operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]

Abstract

A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Claims

1. A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a plurality of power adjusters, each provided with a tiltable axis of rotation, the shifter comprising:

a grip portion having a display;

a hub portion coupled to the grip portion by at least one cable;

wherein the grip can be rotated to adjust a pulley located in the hub;

wherein the display has a filament that is moveable from a first position to a second position, the filament comprising a flexible member; and

wherein the grip portion further comprises;

an inner case;

a grip pulley engaged over the inner case, wherein the grip pulley is rotatable around the inner case;

wherein the grip pulley has a geared portion; and

a lead screw also having a geared portion for mating with the grip pulley;

wherein the filament is coupled to the lead screw by a following nut.

2. The shifter of claim 1 wherein the grip portion comprises an adjuster coupled to the cable, wherein the adjuster can be rotated to adjust the tension on the cable.

3. The shifter of claim 1 wherein the hub comprises a case, wherein the pulley located in the hub is located within the case.

4. The shifter of claim 3 wherein an adjustment in a tension on the at least one cable rotates the pulley in the hub.

5. The shifter of claim 1 wherein an adjustment of the shifter further adjusts a ratio between an input force and an output force.

6. The shifter of claim 1 wherein the filament has a first end coupled to the nut and a second end coupled to the inner case, so that a movement of the nut produces flexion in the filament.

7. The shifter of claim 1 wherein the grip pulley further comprises a helical groove for cable take-up.

8. The shifter of claim 1 wherein the grip pulley further comprises a cable capture slot for coupling the at least one cable to the grip pulley.

9. The shifter of claim 1 further comprises a top case for covering the indicator.

10. The shifter of claim 1 further comprises a scale for indicating a relative adjustment.

11. The shifter of claim 1 comprises a hub interface back plate that can be positioned at various angles to a vehicle frame while also being rotationally anchored to the vehicle frame.

12. A shifter for use with a CVT on a bicycle comprising:

a grip portion located on a handlebar for the bicycle;

a hub portion coupled to the bicycle adjacent to a rear axle of a rear wheel;

a first cable coupled to the grip portion, the first cable coupled to the hub portion;

a second cable coupled to the grip portion, the second cable coupled to the hub portion; and

wherein the grip portion comprises;

an inner case;

a grip pulley engaged over the inner case, wherein the grip pulley is rotatable around the inner case;

wherein the grip pulley has a geared portion;

a lead screw also having a geared portion for mating with the grip pulley; and

an indicator coupled to the lead screw by a following nut.

13. The shifter of claim 12, wherein the indicator comprises a filament that is moveable from a first position to a second position.

14. The shifter of claim 12 wherein the hub comprises a case and a pulley assembly within the case, wherein rotation of the pulley assembly produces an axial translation of a rod coupled to the pulley assembly.