Powdered Metal Variator Components
AssigneeInfinitrak L.L.C.
InventorsRichard Ruebusch, Adrian Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The use of powder metal components in a variator is disclosed. Traction fluid of various sorts may be used in the variators, not just high performance synthetics or application specific lubricants.
Claims46
A variator component comprising a powder metal rolling surface adapted to wear by micropitting.
A variator comprising powdered metal components having a limiting traction coefficient of at least 0.55.
A variator component comprising powder metal having a porous morphology.
A variator component comprising powder metal having a density of 7.6 g/cc or less.
A variator having at least one roller which runs upon at least one race to transfer drive from one to the other at variable ratio, the variator further comprising a fluid supply for supplying fluid to the race and roller thereby to provide a fluid film by which the roller and the race are separated in use, the roller having a running surface with roughness Rq(roller) and the race having a roughness Rq(race), composite roughness being defined as
- √{square root over (Rq(race)2+Rq(roller)2)}{square root over (Rq(race)2+Rq(roller)2)}
- and the variator's specific film thickness being defined as the minimum thickness of the fluid film in normal operation divided by the composite roughness, the variator being characterised in that its specific film thickness is less than 1.0.
A variator component comprising a powder metal surface with Ra roughness above 0.1 micrometers.
A variator component comprising powdered metal having a hardness of less than 62 HRc.
A method of making a variator component comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a mold conforming substantially to the component's shape;
- b. introducing powder metal to the mold;
- and
- c. sintering the powder metal.
A method of making a variator component comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a mold conforming substantially to the component's shape;
- b. introducing powder metal to the mold;
- c. impacting the powder metal with high velocity;
- d. sintering the powder metal;
- e. applying a high velocity re-strike
- f. heat treating the powder metal;
- and
- g. machining the component running surface.
A variator comprising:
- a housing;
- a powder metal disc enclosed within the housing having a contact surface, a density less than 7.7 g/cc, a roughness greater than 0.2 micrometers and a hardness less that 62 HRc;
- and
- a powered metal roller in sliding contact with the disc contact surface having a density less than 7.7 g/cc, a roughness greater than 0.2 micrometers and a hardness less that 62 HRc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.