Continuously variable transmission

• US 8,663,050 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nichols, Jon M, Stevenson, Gregory G, Pohl, Brad P, Thomassy, Fernand A, Lohr, Charles B, Carter, Jeremy, Sherrill, John W, Sweet, Brian B
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US13/717,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20130102434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 475/183, 475/185, 475/189, 475/190, 475/191, 475/192, 475/196, 475/197, 476/36, 476/38
• US Class Current: 475/189
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/16 built in, or adjacent to, the ground-wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• 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: 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 37/022 the toothed gearing having orbital motion
• 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

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a stator plate configured to have a plurality of radially offset slots. Various inventive traction planet assemblies and stator plates can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the traction planet assemblies include planet axles configured to cooperate with the stator plate. In one embodiment, the stator plate is configured to rotate and apply a skew condition to each of the planet axles. In some embodiments, a stator driver is operably coupled to the stator plate. Embodiments of a traction sun are adapted to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces for a CVT are disclosed.

Claims

1. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:

a plurality of traction planets arranged angularly about a longitudinal axis of the CVT;

a first stator coupled to the each of the traction planet assemblies, the first stator provided with a plurality of radially off-set slots, the first stator configured to guide the traction planet assemblies; and

a stator driver assembly coupled to the first stator, the stator driver assembly coaxial to the first stator.

2. The CVT of claim 1, further comprising a second stator coupled to each of the traction planet assemblies, the second stator having a plurality of radial slots adapted to couple to the traction planet assemblies.

3. The CVT of claim 2, wherein the first stator is adapted to rotate with respect to the second stator.

4. The CVT of claim 1, wherein the stator driver assembly comprises a planetary gear set.

5. The CVT of claim 2, wherein the stator driver assembly is configured to rotate the first stator.

6. The CVT of claim 5, wherein the radially off-set slots form an angle with respect to the radial slots in the range of 3 to 45 degrees.

7. The CVT of claim 6, wherein the angle is 20 degrees.

8. The CVT of claim 6, wherein the angle is 10 degrees.

9. A stator driver assembly for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a plurality of traction planet assemblies, the stator driver assembly comprising:

a shift tube;

a gear set coupled to the shift tube; and

a stator coupled to the gear set, the stator having a plurality of radially off-set guide slots adapted to couple to the traction planet assemblies, wherein a rotation of the shift tube corresponds to a rotation of the stator.

10. The stator driver assembly of claim 9, further comprising a pulley coupled to the gear set.

11. The stator driver assembly of claim 10, wherein a rotation of the pulley corresponds to a rotation of the shift tube.

12. The stator driver assembly of claim 9, wherein the radially off-set slots form an angle with respect to a radial coordinate of the stator, the angle in the range of 3 to 45 degrees.

13. The stator driver assembly of claim 12, wherein the angle is 20 degrees.

14. The stator driver assembly of claim 12, wherein the angle is 10 degrees.