Continuously variable transmission and an infinitely variable transmission variator drive

• US 9,933,054 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DANA Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DANA Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cooper, Kenneth E., Versteyhe, Mark R. J., Ziech, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US15/380,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20170097069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2037/0866 Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2005 with one sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2035 with two engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/086 CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member

Abstract

A transmission having a variator drive capable of being placed in a continuously variable operating mode or an infinitely variable operating mode, capable of having a wide ratio range, and capable of integrating a clutching capability within the transmission. The variable transmissions can be operated in at least two different operating modes, depending on an engagement status of the clutches therein. Methods of running the variable transmissions and drivelines that incorporate such variable transmissions are provided.

Claims

1. A variable transmission comprising:

an input shaft;

a first ring assembly rotatably disposed in a housing, the first ring assembly drivingly engaged with the input shaft using a plurality of double planet gears rotatably disposed on the first ring assembly, the first ring assembly configured to be prevented from rotating relative to the housing by a second grounding clutch, and the first ring assembly comprising a first variator ball engagement surface that is in driving engagement with a plurality of tiltable variator balls;

a variator carrier assembly rotatably disposed in the housing and configured to be militated from rotating relative to the housing by a first grounding clutch, the variator carrier assembly comprising

a drive shaft drivingly engaged using a second sun gear engaged with a second gear of each of the double planet gears, and

an annular arrangement of the plurality of tiltable variator balls each having ball axle shafts; and

a second ring assembly rotatably disposed in the housing drivingly engaged with a vehicle output, the second ring assembly comprising and a second variator ball engagement surface that is in driving engagement with each of the variator balls,

wherein said transmission has an infinitely variable operating mode and a continuously variable operating mode.

2. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the input shaft is at least partially disposed in the housing.

3. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein a first sun gear is formed on a second end of the input shaft and is drivingly engaged with a first gear of each of the double planet gears.

4. The variable transmission of claim 3, wherein the first sun gear, the plurality of double planet gears, and the drive shaft form a ringless planetary gearset.

5. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the first ring assembly driven by the plurality of double planet gears when the variator carrier assembly is fixed is driven when the input shaft is rotated.

6. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the variator carrier assembly driven by the plurality of double planet gears when the first ring assembly is fixed is driven when the input shaft is rotated.

7. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the variator carrier assembly comprises a first grounding clutch engagement portion that forms of the first grounding clutch.

8. The variable transmission of claim 7, wherein the first grounding clutch engagement portion extends outwardly from a second end of the variator carrier assembly.

9. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the first ring assembly is selectively drivingly engaged with the input shaft using the first grounding clutch.

10. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the first ring assembly comprises a second grounding clutch engagement portion.

11. The variable transmission of claim 10, wherein the second grounding clutch engagement portion extends outwardly from an outer surface of the first ring assembly.

12. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the second grounding clutch is at least partially disposed on an inner surface of the housing.

13. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the second grounding clutch is a plate clutch.

14. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the first variator carrier assembly may be selectively drivingly engaged with the input shaft using the second grounding clutch.

15. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the second ring assembly comprises an output gear formed in an outer surface of the second ring assembly.

16. The variable transmission of claim 15, wherein the output gear is in driving engagement with the vehicle output.

17. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein an operating mode of the variable transmission is dependent on an engagement status of the first grounding clutch and the second grounding clutch.

18. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the continuously variable operating mode is achieved when the first grounding clutch is engaged and the second grounding clutch is disengaged.

19. The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein the infinitely variable operating mode is achieved when the first grounding clutch is disengaged and the second grounding clutch is engaged.

20. The variable transmission of claim 1, comprising a traction fluid.