Continuously variable transmission

• US 9,074,674 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• 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, Simister, Matthew P, Dawe, Daniel J, Lohr, Charles B, Obrzut, Timothy M
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US14/171,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20140144260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/04 of changeable ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/12 with frictionally-engaging wheels B62M11/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/16 built in, or adjacent to, the ground-wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/061 the intermediate members wedging by movement having an axial component
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/064 the intermediate members wedging by rolling and having a circular cross-section, e.g. balls F16D41/061 takes precedence
• 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 53/02 Single-track cams for single-revolution cycles; Camshafts with such cams
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/18 the final actuating mechanism comprising cams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18304 Axial cam

Abstract

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a carrier assembly to facilitate the support of components in a CVT. In another embodiment, a carrier includes a stator support member and a stator interfacial member. In some embodiments, the stator interfacial member is configured to interact with planet subassemblies of a CVT. Various inventive planet subassemblies and idler assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the planet subassemblies include legs configured to have a sliding interface with a carrier assembly. Embodiments of a hub shell, a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed.

Claims

1. An axial force generator for a continuously variable transmission (CVT), comprising:

a load cam ring having a plurality of ramps;

a load cam roller retaining assembly comprising a first slotted ring coupled to a second slotted ring comprising slots arranged angularly about a longitudinal axis for supporting a plurality of load cam rollers; and

a traction ring in contact with the load cam roller retaining assembly.

2. The axial force generator of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of springs for biasing the load cam ring and the traction ring.

3. The axial force generator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of springs are configured to apply a force on the load cam ring to engage the plurality of load cam rollers with the load cam ring and the traction ring.

4. The axial force generator of claim 3, wherein the load cam roller retaining assembly comprises a first shoulder in the first slotted ring and a second shoulder in the second slotted ring, the first shoulder and the second shoulder being configured to retain a portion of one of the plurality of springs.

5. The axial force generator of claim 4, wherein the load cam ring and the traction ring each further comprises a spring groove for retaining a portion of one of the plurality of springs.

6. The axial force generator of claim 5, wherein the traction ring comprises a plurality of ramps on a first side and a traction contact surface on a substantially opposite side, wherein the force generated by the plurality of springs causes the plurality of load cam rollers to move at least partially up the plurality of ramps of the traction ring.

7. A method for assembling an axial force generator for a continuously variable transmission (CVT), comprising:

positioning a plurality of rollers in slots arranged angularly about a longitudinal axis of a first slotted ring and a second slotted ring to form a load cam roller retaining assembly;

coupling a traction ring to a first side of the load cam roller retaining assembly; and

coupling an annular load cam ring having a plurality of ramps to a second side of the load cam roller retaining assembly.

8. The method for assembling an axial force generator of claim 7, further comprising positioning a portion of one of a plurality of springs in a first shoulder in the first slotted ring and a second shoulder in the second slotted ring of the load cam roller retaining assembly.

9. The method for assembling an axial force generator of claim 8, wherein the load cam ring and the traction ring each further comprises a spring groove for retaining a portion of one of the plurality of springs.

10. The method for assembling an axial force generator of claim 9, wherein the traction ring comprises a plurality of ramps on a first side and a traction contact surface on a substantially opposite side, wherein the method for assembling further comprises biasing the plurality of springs to cause the plurality of load cam rollers to move at least partially up the ramps of the traction ring.

11. The method for assembling an axial force generator of claim 7, wherein the first slotted ring is coupled to the second slotted ring.