Infinitely variable transmissions, continuously variable transmissions, methods, assemblies, subassemblies, and components therefor

• US 9,611,921 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lohr, III, Charles B., Thomassy, Fernand A., Smithson, Robert, Jackson, David Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): FENSTERMACHER, DAVID MORGAN
• Application Number:
  US14/337,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20140329637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/40 in which two members co-operative by means of balls, or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts
• 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 61/664 Friction gearings

Abstract

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in operating mode of an IVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a drive clutch coupled to a source of rotational power; the drive clutch is configured to selectively engage a traction ring and a carrier of the IVT. The control system includes a one-way clutch assembly configured to selectively engage the traction ring and the carrier. In some embodiments, the control system governs the actuation of the one-way clutch to selectively lock and unlock components of the IVT. In some embodiments, the control system implements an IVT mode wherein the carrier selectively couples to a source of rotational power. In other embodiments, the control system implements a CVT mode wherein the traction ring selectively couples to a source of rotational power.

Claims

1. A transmission comprising:

a first disc mounted coaxially about a longitudinal axis of the transmission;

a plurality of tiltable balls placed angularly about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the first disc;

a second disc mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis of the transmission and in contact with the plurality of tiltable balls;

an idler placed radially inward of, and in contact with, the plurality of tiltable balls;

a cage operably coupled to the plurality of balls;

a first clutch assembly operably coupled to the cage and the first disc;

a second clutch assembly operably coupled to the cage and the first disc;

wherein at least two of the first disc, second disc, idler, and cage are adapted to receive a power input; and

wherein at least one of the first disc, second disc, idler and cage is adapted to provide a power output.

2. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the idler is adapted to rotate freely without transferring power.

3. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the first disc and the cage are adapted to receive a power input.

4. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the first clutch assembly is operably coupled to a power source, wherein the second clutch is operably coupled to a ground member, and wherein the first and second clutch can be actuated to provide an input power to the transmission.

5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the first clutch assembly comprises a hydraulic clutch.

6. The transmission of claim 1, wherein the second clutch assembly comprises a one-way clutch.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to execute a set of instructions for performing:

receiving a plurality of signals;

determining a target operating mode;

determining a command signal for the first clutch assembly;

determining a command signal for the second clutch assembly; and

selectively engaging the first clutch assembly to the first traction ring and the cage based at least in part on the command signal for the first clutch assembly.

8. The system of claim 7, the controller further configured to selectively engage the second clutch assembly to the first traction ring and the cage based at least in part on the command signal for the second clutch assembly.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein determining a command signal for the first clutch assembly comprises the step of comparing the target operating mode to a user command signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user command signal comprises a throttle position signal.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the user command signal comprises a control lever position signal or a PRNDL position signal.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein selectively engaging the first clutch assembly comprises the step of unlocking the first clutch.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein selectively engaging the second clutch assembly comprises the step of releasing the first traction ring.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein selectively engaging the second clutch assembly comprises the step of releasing the cage.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to execute a set of instructions for performing:

receiving at least one signal indicative of a current operating mode of the transmission;

receiving a user command signal;

determining a target operating mode of the transmission based at least in part on the user command signal;

comparing the target operating mode to the current operating mode;

commanding the first clutch assembly to selectively unlock the first traction ring and/or the cage; and

commanding the second clutch assembly to selectively engage the first traction ring and/or the cage.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein commanding the first clutch assembly comprises at least one of unlocking the first traction ring, locking the cage, engaging the cage, locking the first traction ring, engaging the first traction ring, and unlocking the cage.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein commanding the second clutch assembly comprises at least one of engaging the first traction ring, releasing the cage, engaging the cage, and releasing the first traction ring.