Single chain continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission comprising a housing, a first pulley assembly and a second pulley assembly supported within said housing, a chain extending between said first pulley assembly and said second pulley assembly, said first pulley assembly comprising a first shaft and a first bulkhead, said first shaft comprising a first disk portion, a first moveable disk being positioned between said first bulkhead and said first disk portion, said second pulley assembly comprising a second shaft and a second bulkhead, said second shaft comprising a second disk portion, a second moveable disk being positioned between said second bulkhead and said second disk portion, said first bulkhead being secured to said first shaft such that said first bulkhead is substantially secured against rotation relative to said first shaft, said second bulkhead being secured to said second shaft such that said second bulkhead is substantially secured against rotation relative to said second shaft, a first outer bearing surface being defined between said first moveable disk and said first bulkhead and a first inner bearing surface being defined between said first moveable disk and said first shaft, a second outer bearing surface being defined between said second moveable disk and said second bulkhead and a second inner bearing surface being defined between said second moveable disk and said second shaft, a first spline connection being located between said first outer bearing surface and said first inner bearing surface, a second spline connection being located between said second outer bearing surface and said second inner bearing surface, a first fluid passage extending axially through at least a portion of said first shaft and a second fluid passage extending axially through at least a portion of said second shaft, a first fluid tube extending at least part way through said first fluid passage and a second fluid tube extending at least part way through said second fluid passage, and a first end of the first fluid tube containing a first plug and a first end of the second fluid tube containing a second plug.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission has a first pulley assembly and a second pulley assembly connected by a chain. At least one of the pulley assemblies has a shaft and a bulkhead secured to the shaft. The shaft has a fixed disk portion. A moveable disk portion is positioned on the shaft between the fixed disk portion and the moveable disk portion. The moveable disk portion has a portion that bears on the bulkhead and a portion that bears on the shaft. A fluid system also supplies fluid to the system to both lubricate the transmission and drive the movement of the moveable disk portion. The fluid system can be constructed to not load the shaft with any substantial axial load.
98 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A continuously variable transmission comprising a housing, a first pulley assembly and a second pulley assembly supported within said housing, a chain extending between said first pulley assembly and said second pulley assembly, said first pulley assembly comprising a first shaft and a first bulkhead, said first shaft comprising a first disk portion, a first moveable disk being positioned between said first bulkhead and said first disk portion, said second pulley assembly comprising a second shaft and a second bulkhead, said second shaft comprising a second disk portion, a second moveable disk being positioned between said second bulkhead and said second disk portion, said first bulkhead being secured to said first shaft such that said first bulkhead is substantially secured against rotation relative to said first shaft, said second bulkhead being secured to said second shaft such that said second bulkhead is substantially secured against rotation relative to said second shaft, a first outer bearing surface being defined between said first moveable disk and said first bulkhead and a first inner bearing surface being defined between said first moveable disk and said first shaft, a second outer bearing surface being defined between said second moveable disk and said second bulkhead and a second inner bearing surface being defined between said second moveable disk and said second shaft, a first spline connection being located between said first outer bearing surface and said first inner bearing surface, a second spline connection being located between said second outer bearing surface and said second inner bearing surface, a first fluid passage extending axially through at least a portion of said first shaft and a second fluid passage extending axially through at least a portion of said second shaft, a first fluid tube extending at least part way through said first fluid passage and a second fluid tube extending at least part way through said second fluid passage, and a first end of the first fluid tube containing a first plug and a first end of the second fluid tube containing a second plug.
- 13. A continuously variable transmission comprising a housing, a first pulley assembly and a second pulley assembly supported within said housing, a chain extending between said first pulley assembly and said second pulley assembly, said first pulley assembly comprising a shaft and a bulkhead, said shaft comprising a disk portion, a moveable disk being positioned between said bulkhead and said disk portion, said bulkhead being secured to said shaft such that said bulkhead is substantially secured against rotation relative to said shaft, an outer bearing surface being defined between said moveable disk and said bulkhead and an inner bearing surface being defined between said moveable disk and said shaft, a spline connection being located between said outer bearing surface and said inner bearing surface.
- 22. A continuously variable transmission comprising a housing, a first pulley assembly and a second pulley assembly supported within said housing, a chain extending between said first pulley assembly and said second pulley assembly, said first pulley assembly comprising a shaft and a bulkhead, said shaft comprising a disk portion, a moveable disk being positioned between said bulkhead and said disk portion, a fluid passage extending axially through at least a portion of said shaft, a fluid tube extending at least part way through said fluid passage and a first end of the fluid tube containing a plug.
Specification