Continuously variable transmission

• US 8,123,653 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Smithson, Robert A, Pohl, Brad P, Armstrong, Oronde J, Miller, Donald C, Dawe, Daniel J, Thomassy, Fernand A, Simister, Matthew P, Poth, Wesley R, Nichols, Jon M, Lohr, Charles B
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C
• Application Number:
  US11/842,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 476/36, 476/37, 476/38
• 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. A cage for a variator assembly of a continuously variable transmission (“

CVT”

), the cage comprising;

first and second circular plates, each plate having a central bore;

a plurality of spacers, each spacer comprising;

a body having a central hole therethrough and having a first and a second ends;

a first end plate coupled to the body at the first end of the body, the first end plate generally perpendicular to the body;

a second end plate coupled to the body at the second end of the body, the second end plate generally perpendicular to the body, wherein the first end plate couples to the first circular plate and the second end plate couples to the second circular plate, and wherein at least one of the end plates is adapted to support angular alignment of an axle of an axle-ball assembly;

a scraper coupled to the body, the scraper configured for directing a lubricant toward the center of the CVT; and

a plurality of lubricant passages formed on the body, the lubricant passages adapted to direct the lubricant toward the center of the CVT.

2. The cage of claim 1, wherein the first end plate and/or the second end plate further comprises a curved surface.

3. The cage of claim 1, wherein at least one of the end plates is adapted to guide a leg of a ball-leg assembly.

4. The cage of claim 3, wherein at least one of the end plates further comprises a profile matched to the planar motion of a leg roller on the leg.

5. The cage of claim 1, the scraper is configured to extend radially beyond the diameters of the first and second circular plates.

6. The cage of claim 1, wherein at least one of the spacers has a raised wedge.

7. A method of manufacturing a cage for a variator assembly of a continuously variable transmission (“

CVT”

), the method comprising;

forming a first circular plate having a central bore;

forming a second circular plate having a central bore; and

forming a plurality of spacers, wherein forming at least one of the spacers comprises;

forming a body with a central hole therethrough and to have first and second ends;

forming a first end plate coupled to the body at the first end of the body, the first end plate generally perpendicular to the body;

forming a second end plate coupled to the body at the second end of the body, the second end plate generally perpendicular to the body, wherein forming at least one of the end plates further comprises forming a shape to support angular alignment of an axle for a ball-axle assembly on at least one of the first and/or second end plates;

forming a scraper coupled to the body, the scraper configured for directing a lubricant toward the center of the CVT; and

forming a plurality of lubricant passages on the body, the lubricant passages adapted to direct the lubricant toward the center of the CVT; and

coupling the first end plate to the first circular plate; and

coupling the second end plate to the second circular plate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein forming at least one of the end plates further comprises forming a curved surface.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein forming at least one of the end plates further comprises forming a shape that guides a leg of a ball-leg assembly.