Continuously variable transmission

• US 9,903,450 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomassy, Fernand A
• Primary Examiner(s): Fenstermacher, David M
• Application Number:
  US14/501,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• 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 55/32 Friction members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49464 Assembling of gear into force transmitting device

Abstract

Components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT) having a control system adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVT are described. In one embodiment, a control system includes a stator plate configured to have a plurality of radially offset slots. Various 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.

Claims

1. A stator plate for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a plurality of traction planets,the stator plate comprising:

a disc shaped body having a central bore; and

a plurality of radially offset guides arranged angularly about the central bore,

wherein each of the plurality of radially offset guides defines a section line that is offset from a centerline of the disc shaped body, wherein the plurality of section lines and the plurality of centerlines lie in a single plane.

2. The stator plate of claim 1, further comprising a shift stop extension arranged about the central bore.

3. The stator plate of claim 2, wherein the shift stop extension is located radially inward of the radially offset guides.

4. The stator plate of claim 2, wherein the shift stop extension is located radially outward of the radially offset guides.

5. The stator plate of claim 1, further comprising a bushing coupled to the stator plate, wherein the bushing provides a rotatable coupling to a main axle.

6. The stator plate of claim 5, further comprising a stator driver coupled to one of the disc shaped body or the bushing, wherein rotation of the stator driver rotates the disc shaped body.

7. The stator plate of claim 1, wherein the radially offset guides have a curved profile.

8. The stator plate of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radially offset guides has a curved profile, and wherein a projection of each radially offset guide onto the single plane is parallel to the centerline.

9. The stator plate of claim 1, wherein each of the radially offset guides has a linear offset from a centerline of the disc shaped body such that a first line (A-A) is parallel but not aligning with a second line (B-B), wherein the first line (A-A) substantially bisects one of the radially offset guides, and wherein the second line (B-B) is perpendicular to the main axle of the CVT.

10. A stator plate for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a plurality of traction planets, the stator plate comprising:

a disc shaped body having a central bore; and

a plurality of radially offset guides arranged angularly about the central bore,

wherein each of the plurality of radially offset guides defines a section line, each of the plurality of radially offset guides intersecting the others of the plurality of radially offset guides at different locations.

11. The stator plate of claim 10, wherein each radially offset guide has a curved profile, wherein a projection of each radially offset guide onto a single plane forms a straight line that is parallel to a centerline.

12. The stator plate of claim 10, wherein a wall of the radially offset guides has a curved profile, wherein a projection of each radially offset guide onto a single plane forms a curved line.