Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis comprising:

• a plurality of spherical power adjusters, wherein each power adjuster has at least one central bore that is centrally located within the power adjuster and that defines an axis of rotation of the power adjuster;
• a drive disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters and having a first side facing the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters;
• a support member providing a support surface that is in frictional contact with a second point on each of the power adjusters, wherein the support member rotates coaxially about the longitudinal axis, is centrally located between the power adjusters and has two ends;
• a plurality of generally elongated spindles having two ends and a longitudinal axis, wherein each spindle is positioned in the bore of one of the power adjusters;
• a plurality of spindle supports having a platform end and spindle end, wherein two spindle supports are provided for each spindle, wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles, and wherein each of the spindle supports adjusts the axis of rotation of a power adjuster in response to the axial movement of the support member.
• two platforms, one located axially adjacent to each end of the support member, for actuating axial movement of the support member and for actuating a shift in the axis of rotation of the power adjusters, wherein each platform provides a convex surface that is operably engaged with the platform ends of the plurality of spindle supports;
• first and second annular contact bearings, each positioned between a respective one of the first and second platform and a corresponding end of the support member;
• annular first and second stationary supports each having a first side facing the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters, each of the first and second stationary supports also having a concave surface on the first side, and wherein the first stationary support is located adjacent to the drive disc and the second stationary support is located adjacent to the output drive disc;
• and
• a plurality of spacers having a longitudinal axis and two ends, wherein the spacers are adapted to interconnect the stationary supports thereby maintaining an orientation of the first stationary support with respect to the second stationary support.

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

• a plurality of power adjusters, wherein each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation, and each power adjuster is located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
• a generally annular drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters, and having a first side contacting the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters;
• a generally cylindrical support member coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each power adjuster;
• a generally annular output drive disc coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each power adjuster;
• a bearing disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and positioned along the longitudinal axis near the second side of the drive disc;
• and
• at least two axial force generators, wherein the axial force generators are located axially between the drive disc and the bearing disc, and wherein each axial force generator is adapted to apply a component of an axial force to the drive disc.

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

• a plurality of power adjusters, wherein each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation, and each power adjuster is located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
• a generally annular drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters, and having a first side contacting the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters;
• a generally cylindrical support member coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each power adjuster;
• a generally annular output drive disc coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each power adjuster;
• a bearing disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and positioned along the longitudinal axis near the second side of the drive disc;
• disengagement means positioned between the bearing disc and the drive disc and adapted to disconnect the drive disc from the power adjusters when an input rotational force is ceased.

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

• a plurality of power adjusters, wherein each havs a tiltable axis of rotation, and each power adjuster is located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
• a generally annular drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters, and having a first side contacting the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters;
• a generally annular output drive disc coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each power adjuster;
• a bearing disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and positioned along the longitudinal axis near the second side of the drive disc;
• a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about and coaxial with the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each of the power adjusters, wherein the support member is adapted to pull toward the drive disc when it is rotating more slowly than the output drive disc and pull toward the output drive disc when it is rotating more slowly than the drive disc.

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

• a plurality of spherical power adjusters, wherein each has a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and wherein each power adjuster is located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
• a generally annular drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters;
• a generally annular output drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the power adjusters;
• a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about and coaxial with the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each of the power adjusters;
• a plurality of generally elongated spindles having two ends and a longitudinal axis, wherein each spindle is positioned in the bore of one of the power adjusters such that a movement of the axis of the spindle changes the axis of rotation of an associated power adjuster;
• a plurality of spindle supports each having a platform end and a spindle end, wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles, and wherein each of the spindle supports adjusts the axis of rotation of a power adjuster in response to the axial movement of the support member;
• a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is operably attached to each spindle support, and wherein the stationary support wheels are adapted to guide the spindle support as the spindle support adjusts the axis of rotation of the poser adjusters;
• and
• annular first and second stationary supports each having a first side facing the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters, each of the first and second stationary supports also having a concave surface on the first side, and wherein the first stationary support is located adjacent to the drive disc and the second stationary support is located adjacent to the output drive disc

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

• a plurality of spherical power adjusters, wherein each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and wherein each power adjuster is located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
• a drive disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the power adjusters, and having a first side facing the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters;
• a generally annular output drive disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the power adjusters;
• a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about and coaxial with the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each of the power adjusters;
• a plurality of generally elongated spindles having two ends and a longitudinal axis, wherein each spindle is positioned in the bore of one of the power adjusters such that a movement of the axis of the spindle changes the axis of rotation of an associated power adjuster;
• a plurality of spindle supports each having a platform end and a spindle end, wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles, and wherein each of the spindle supports adjusts the axis of rotation of a power adjuster in response to the axial movement of the support member;
• a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is operably attached to each spindle support, and wherein the stationary support wheels are adapted to guide the spindle support as the spindle support adjusts the axis of rotation of the poser adjusters;
• a bearing disc annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the transmission and positioned along the longitudinal axis near the second side of the drive disc;
• annular first and second stationary supports each having a first side facing the power adjusters and a second side facing away from the power adjusters, each of the first and second stationary supports also having a concave surface on the first side, and wherein the first stationary support is located adjacent to the drive disc and the second stationary support is located adjacent to the output drive disc;
• and
• a coiled spring positioned between the bearing disc and the drive disc adapted to bias the drive disc to contact with the power adjusters.

A method of providing continuously variable transmission of an input rotation, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the input rotation from a driving disc;
• applying the input rotation from the driving disc to one point on all of a plurality of spherical power adjusters and thereby rotating the power adjusters, wherein each power adjuster is adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• contacting the power adjusters with an output drive disc, thereby converting the input rotation to an output rotation of the output drive disc, wherein a speed of the output rotation is dependent upon the axis of rotation of the power adjusters;
• supporting each of the plurality of power adjusters in their radial positions with a support member;
• aligning axially the position of the support member with adjustment platforms;
• and
• adjusting the axis of rotation of the power adjusters by axially moving the support platforms.