Continuously variable transmissions using magnetorheological fluid or oil shear and methods of and systems for using the same in a vehicle, in-wheel application

A system for providing continuous variable transmission for an in-wheel motor vehicle, wherein the system comprises:

• an in-wheel motor that provides an input speed and an input torque;
• a continuous variable speed ratio transmission comprising a magnetorheological fluid and a moveable magnetic flux producing device, wherein said continuous variable speed ratio transmission transfers the input torque from the in-wheel motor through said magnetorheological fluid to an output shaft to drive a motor vehicle wheel by shear;
• and
• a continuous variable transmission control unit that provides a control current to position the moveable magnetic flux producing device at a desired location, wherein said moveable magnetic flux producing device provides a magnetic flux field in the magnetorheological fluid at the desired location that provides a shear region in said magnetorheological fluid at said desired location through which the input torque is transferred.

A continuously variable speed ratio transmission for providing input torque to an output shaft, the transmission comprising:

• an input drive element further comprising an input shaft, said input drive element being in communication with a device for providing said input torque;
• a first plurality of idler assemblies that are in communication with the input shaft of the input drive element, whereby input torque provided by said input shaft is transmitted to each of said first plurality of idler assemblies;
• one or more magnetorheological clutch assemblies, each of the one or more magnetorheological clutch assemblies having a speed ration and further comprising:
• an input cylinder that is rotatable about a stationary shaft;
• a clutch input gear, an outer periphery of which is in communication with an outer periphery of one of the first plurality of idler assemblies and the input cylinder so that the clutch input gear, one of the first plurality of idler assemblies and said input cylinder can rotate synchronously;
• and
• a output cylinder which is in communication with an output gear so that the output cylinder and output gear can rotate synchronously,
• wherein the output cylinder is coaxial with the input cylinder and separated therefrom by a fluid filled-gap;
• a second plurality of idler assemblies, wherein each of said second plurality of idler assemblies is in communication with a discrete output gear of the output cylinder of one of the one or more magnetorheological clutch assemblies, whereby torque transmitted to the output gear of said one or more magnetorheological clutch assemblies is further transmitted to each of said second plurality of idler assemblies;
• and
• an output shaft assembly further comprising:
• an output shaft;
• an output gear, an outer periphery of which is in communication with each of the second plurality of idler assemblies and the output shaft,
• whereby any torque transmitted to said second plurality of idler assemblies is further transmitted to said output shaft assembly output gear and then to the output shaft of the output shaft assembly.

A method of providing a continuously variable speed ratio in a transmission, the transmission, the method comprises the steps of:

• providing an outer ring gear;
• providing at least one inner rotating gear that is disposed inside the outer ring gear;
• structuring and arranging the at least one inner rotating gear and the outer ring gear so they are aligned in parallel axes and to provide a space or gap therebetween;
• introducing a magentorheological fluid into said space or gap between said at least one inner rotating gear and said outer ring gear;
• providing a moveable magnetic flux producing device to induce a magnetic flux field at a desired location within said space or gap in order to activate the magnetorheological fluid at the desired location;
• and
• transferring torque from the at least one inner rotating gear to the outer ring gear as shear stress in the magnetorheological fluid in the desired location to provide a desired speed ratio.

A continuously variable speed ratio transmission for providing input torque to an output shaft, the transmission comprising:

• an input drive element further comprising an input shaft, said input drive element being in communication with a device for providing said input torque;
• a first plurality of idler assemblies that are in communication with the input shaft of the input drive element, whereby input torque provided by said input shaft is transmitted to each of said first plurality of idler assemblies;
• one or more clutch assemblies, each of said one or more clutch assemblies having a speed ratio, wherein each of said one or more clutch assemblies comprises:
• an input clutch gear of the same diameter, and
• an output clutch gear having a diameter that affects the speed ratio,
• whereby any torque transmitted to the input clutch gear of each of said one or more clutch assemblies by said first plurality of idler assemblies is further transmitted to the output clutch gear of each of said one or more clutch assemblies;
• a second plurality of idler assemblies, wherein each of said second plurality of idler assemblies is in communication with the output clutch gear of said one or more clutch assemblies, whereby any torque transmitted to each output gear of said one or more clutch assemblies by said first plurality of idler assemblies is further transmitted to each of said second plurality of idler assemblies;
• and
• an output shaft assembly further comprising:
• an output gear that is in communication with each of said second plurality of idler assemblies, and
• an output shaft that is in communication with said output shaft assembly output gear,
• whereby any torque transmitted to the second plurality of idler assemblies is further transmitted to said output shaft assembly output gear and then to the output shaft of the output shaft assembly.

A system for providing continuous variable transmission for an in-wheel motor vehicle, wherein the system comprises:

• an in-wheel motor that provides an input speed and an input torque;
• a continuous variable speed ratio transmission comprising one or more oil shear-type clutch assemblies, wherein each of the one or more oil shear-type clutch assemblies has a speed ratio;
• and
• a continuous variable transmission control unit that provides external pressure to actuate one or more of the one or more oil shear-type clutch assemblies to provide a desired speed ratio, whereby actuation can be effected by applying said external pressure to one or more of said one or more oil shear-type clutch assemblies that have the desired speed ratio.