Continuously variable transmission

• US 7,883,442 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Allen, David John, Miller, Donald C
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright; Dirk
• Application Number:
  US12/360,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 476/37, 476/38, 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 476/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/12 with frictionally-engaging wheels B62M11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• 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: F16H 61/664 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6649 characterised by the means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/067 mechanical actuating means

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

Claims

1. A power generator comprising:

a turbine;

a continuously variable transmission operably coupled to the turbine, the continuously variable transmission comprising;

a rotatable driving member mounted on a shaft;

a plurality of power adjusters in contact with the driving member;

a rotatable support member mounted on the shaft, capable of axial movement along the shaft, and in contact with the power adjusters;

a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the shaft, the bearing disk adapted to provide rotational force to the driving member; and

at least two axial force generators, the axial force generators located between the driving member and the bearing disk, each axial force generator configured to apply a component of an axial force to the driving member.

2. The power generator of claim 1, further comprising a spindle for each power adjuster, the spindle located within the power adjuster.

3. The power generator of claim 1, further comprising a first platform positioned on a first end of the support member and adapted to move axially with the support member.

4. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises a shaft operably coupled to the driving member.

5. The power generator of claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises a shaft operably coupled to the support member.

6. A power generator comprising:

a power source;

a plurality of power adjusters;

a plurality of spindles, each spindle placed in a bore of a power adjuster to provide an axis of rotation for the power adjuster, each spindle having first and second ends;

a plurality of radial grooves adapted to receive the first and second ends of the spindles; and

a plurality of concave surfaces operationally coupled to the spindles, wherein the concave surfaces are adapted to guide an axial and radial movement of the spindles.

7. The power generator of claim 6, wherein the power source is adapted to receive a power from a turbine.

8. The power generator of claim 7, further comprising a planetary gear set operably coupled to the turbine.

9. The power generator of claim 7, wherein the plurality of grooves and the plurality of concave surfaces are formed on a disk.

10. The power generator of claim 8, wherein the disk comprises a central hole and an outer circumference.

11. The power generator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of grooves is placed angularly about the central hole, and wherein the grooves extend radially between the central hole and the outer circumference.

12. The power generator of claim 11, wherein the plurality of concave surfaces is placed angularly about the central hole, and wherein the concave surfaces extend radially between the central hole and the outer edge.

13. A power generator comprising:

a power source;

a continuously variable transmission operably coupled to the power source, the continuously variable transmission comprising;

a plurality of power adjusters;

a plurality of spindles, each spindle placed in a bore of a power adjuster, the splined substantially defining a tiltable axis of rotation for the power adjuster;

a first support disk coupled to a first end of each spindle;

a second support disk coupled to a second end of each spindle; and

wherein the first and second support disks have a plurality of concave surfaces.

14. The power generator of claim 13, wherein the power source is adapted to receive a power from a shaft of a turbine.

15. The power generator of claim 14, further comprising a planetary gear set coupled to the shaft.

16. The power generator of claim 15, wherein the continuously variable transmission is operably coupled to the planetary gear set.

17. The power generator of claim 16, wherein the first and second support disks are stationary.

18. The power generator of claim 16, wherein the first and second support disks are adapted to a split shaft of the continuously variable transmission.

19. The power generator of claim 15, further comprising a drive disk contacting each power adjusters, the drive disk operably coupled to the planetary gear set.

20. The power generator of claim 15, further comprising a rotatable support member contacting each power adjuster, the rotatable support member operably coupled to the planetary gear set.