Continuously variable transmission

• US 9,017,207 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pohl, Brad P, Miller, Donald C, Smithson, Robert A, Carter, Jeremy, Lohr, Charles B
• Primary Examiner(s): Pang, Roger
• Application Number:
  US13/934,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20140011619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 475/189, 475/190, 475/191, 475/192, 475/196, 475/197, 475/150
• US Class Current: 475/189
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 2009/045 Planetary gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 67/04 of mechanically-driven auxiliary apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/08 with balls or with rollers acting in a similar manner
• 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 15/52 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 2061/6644 dependent on control input parameters other than ambient conditions or driver's choice
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/04 Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heatingin hydrokinetic gearing F16H41/30; control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0421 on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0427 on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0428 Grooves with pumping effect for supplying lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0431 Means for guiding lubricant directly onto a tooth surface or to foot areas of a gear, e.g. by holes or grooves in a tooth flank
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0484 with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/32 Electric motors actuators or related electrical control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6646 controlling shifting exclusively as a function of speed

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a front end accessory drive (FEAD) and power modulating devices (PMD) which can be used in a FEAD. In one embodiment, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is coupled directly to a crankshaft of a prime mover, and the CVT is used to regulate the speed and/or torque delivered to an accessory. A compound drive device includes a motor/generator subassembly cooperating with a CVT subassembly to provide a motor functionality with torque multiplication or division, or alternatively, a generator functionality with torque multiplication or division. In some embodiments, a FEAD includes a PMD having a sun shaft configured to couple to a sun of the PMD and to an electric motor component, such as an electrical armature or an electrical field. In one embodiment, the electrical armature the electrical field are placed concentrically and coaxially and configured to rotate relative to one another in opposite directions.

Claims

1. A power modulating device comprising:

a plurality of spherical planets;

a sun in contact with the spherical planets;

an electrical armature operably coupled to the sun;

an electrical field mounted coaxially about and concentrically with the electrical armature; and

first and second traction rings in contact with the plurality of spherical planets, wherein the electrical armature and the electrical field are configured such that both the electrical armature and the electrical field are capable of rotation about an axis that is coaxial with the electrical armature.

2. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical armature and the electrical field rotate in opposite directions.

3. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical armature and the electrical field comprise a 4-pole motor with 3 armature phases.

4. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical armature and the electrical field comprise a motor/generator.

5. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical field rigidly attaches to the first traction ring.

6. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical field comprises a plurality of electromagnets.

7. The power modulating device of claim 1, further comprising a sun shaft capable of axial movement and configured to actuate the sun to thereby facilitate a shift of the transmission ratio of the power modulating device.

8. The power modulating device of claim 7, further comprising an armature mount coupled to the sun shaft.

9. The power modulating device of claim 1, wherein the electrical armature comprises a plurality of coils wrapped around a plurality of laminations.

10. The power modulating device of claim 1, further comprising a rotating conductor in electrical communication with an electrical receptacle, wherein the electrical receptacle is configured to receive electrical leads connected to the electrical armature.

11. The power modulating device of claim 10, further comprising a conductor cap in electrical communication with the rotating conductor.