Electric traction drives

• US 9,574,643 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pohl, Brad P.
• Primary Examiner(s): KNIGHT, DEREK DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US15/053,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/12 of electric gearing of electrically-actuated clutches B60K17/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/60 Electric Machines, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/72 Continous variable transmissions [CVT]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/73 Planetary gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 11/16 built in, or adjacent to, the ground-wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• 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 37/086 CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/16 Synchronous generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for electric traction drives employing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a variator provided with a plurality of tilting traction planets and opposing traction rings. In one embodiment, an electric traction drive is provided with an electromotive device configured to transfer power to or from a traction sun of a CVT. In other embodiments, an electric traction drive is provided with an electromotive device that couples to certain components of a CVT such as a traction ring, a carrier assembly, and a main axle. Various inventive shifting assemblies having shift cams and shift cam cages can be used to facilitate adjusting the transmission speed ratio of a CVT. Various related devices include embodiments of, for example, a power input apparatus, a speed ratio shifter, a shift cam actuator, a shift nut, and a carrier assembly configured to support the tilting traction planets.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electric traction drive on a main axle, the main axle defining a longitudinal axis, the electric traction drive comprising

a plurality of traction planets distributed radially about the longitudinal axis, each traction planet rotatable about a tiltable axis,

a first traction ring and a second traction ring in contact with the plurality of traction planets, the plurality of traction planets interposed between the first traction ring and the second traction ring,

a rotatable traction sun mounted on the main axle and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the plurality of traction planets,

a traction sun drive shaft coupled to the traction sun,

an electric rotor assembly coupled to the traction sun drive shaft,

a drive shaft operably coupled to the first traction ring, the drive shaft adapted to transfer power to the first traction ring,

a field that is rotationally fixed to the second traction ring; and

a main shell comprising one or more flanges for facilitating the transfer of torque to a load, wherein the main shell is used to drive a wheel, and wherein the one or more flanges is adapted to couple to a plurality of spokes of the wheel.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the field is located radially outward of the electric rotor.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the field is located radially inward of the electric rotor.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a housing adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the housing is operably coupled to the first traction ring.

5. A bicycle comprising:

an electric traction drive on a main axle, the main axle defining a longitudinal axis, the electric traction drive comprising

a plurality of traction planets distributed radially about the longitudinal axis, each traction planet rotatable about a tiltable axis,

a first traction ring and a second traction ring in contact with the plurality of traction planets, the plurality of traction planets interposed between the first traction ring and the second traction ring,

a rotatable traction sun mounted on the main axle and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the plurality of traction planets,

a ratio control device coupled to the traction sun,

a traction sun drive shaft coupled to the traction sun,

an electric rotor assembly coupled to the traction sun drive shaft,

a drive shaft operably coupled to the first traction ring, the drive shaft adapted to transfer power to the first traction ring, and

a field that is rotationally fixed to the second traction ring.

6. The bicycle of claim 5, further comprising a main shell comprising one or more flanges, wherein the main shell is used to drive a wheel, wherein the one or more flanges is adapted to couple to a plurality of spokes of the wheel.

7. A bicycle comprising:

an electric traction drive on a main axle, the main axle defining a longitudinal axis, the electric traction drive comprising

a plurality of traction planets distributed radially about the longitudinal axis, each traction planet rotatable about a tiltable axis,

a first traction ring and a second traction ring in contact with the plurality of traction planets, the plurality of traction planets interposed between the first traction ring and the second traction ring,

a rotatable traction sun mounted on the main axle and positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the plurality of traction planets,

a traction sun drive shaft coupled to the traction sun,

an electric rotor assembly coupled to the traction sun drive shaft,

a drive shaft operably coupled to the first traction ring, the drive shaft adapted to transfer power to the first traction ring, and

a field that is rotationally fixed to the second traction ring, wherein a power output interface is integral with a housing of the electric traction drive, and wherein a power input is coupled to the power output interface.

8. The bicycle of claim 7, further comprising a main shell comprising one or more flanges, wherein the main shell is used to drive a wheel, and wherein the one or more flanges is adapted to couple to a plurality of spokes of the wheel.

9. The bicycle of claim 7, wherein the field is located radially outward of the electric rotor.

10. The bicycle of claim 7, wherein the field is located radially inward of the electric rotor.