Steady-state and transitory control for transmission between engine and electrical power generator

A system for transforming a variable output of a variable source if mechanical power into an input having a desired speed value for an apparatus, the system comprising:

• a transmission receiving the variable output and producing the input, the transmission having a variable ratio between a first speed of the output and a second speed of the input;
• at least one sensor producing first speed data corresponding to the first speed, second speed data corresponding to a power demand of the apparatus;
• a first controller receiving the first speed data, the second speed data and the power demand data, calculating an available power and a desired transmission ratio value based on the first speed data and the power demand data, classifying the system in one of at least first and second categories based on a first comparison of the first speed with a set range including the desired speed value and a second comparison of the available power with at least one threshold value, instructing the transmission to bring the variable ratio to the desired transmission ratio value rapidly when the system is in the first category, and instructing the transmission to bring the variable ratio to the desired transmission value progressively when the system is in the second category;
• and
• a second controller receiving the second speed data and sending a speed correction signal to the source of mechanical power to change the first speed until the second speed data corresponds to the desired speed value.

A method for controlling a variable transmission transforming a variable output of a variable source of mechanical power into an input having a desired speed value for an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a first speed of the variable output, a second speed of the input, and a power demand of the apparatus;
• calculating (1) an available power based on the first speed and the power demand, (2) a stability level of the input of the apparatus based on the first speed and the available power, (3) a desired ratio of the transmission based on the power demand, and (4) a desired rate of ratio change based on the stability level;
• instructing the transmission to change to the desired ratio at the desired rate of ratio change;
• and
• varying the first speed until the second speed is substantially equal to the desired speed value.

A toroidal transmission comprising:

• first and second toroidal disks rotated by an input shaft;
• a third toroidal disk located between the first and second toroidal disk and rotating an output shaft;
• a plurality of first frictional rollers frictionally engaged to a toroidal cavity race of the first disk and a first toroidal cavity race of the third disk, each of the first frictional rollers being rotatable to transfer rotary power between the second and third disks;
• a plurality of second frictional rollers frictionally engaged to a toroidal cavity race of the second disk and a second toroidal cavity race of the third disk, each of the second frictional rollers being rotatable to transfer rotary power between the first and third disks;
• first means for retaining the first frictional rollers at a same first selective angle with respect to the third disk, the first means being actuable to change the first selective angle;
• second means for retaining the second frictional rollers at a same second selective angle with respect to the third disk, the second means being actuable to change the second selective angle;
• and
• third means for connecting the first and second means such that the first selective angle is substantially equal to the second selective angle and for actuating the first and second means together to obtain a selected value for the first and second selective angles, the selected value corresponding to at least one of a desired ratio of the transmission and a desired rate of ratio change of the transmission, the third means actuating the first and second means upon reception of a control signal.

A multi-stage continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a) a first transmission stage, including:
• i) a first pair of races defining therebetween a first toroidal cavity;
• ii) a first set of rollers in said first toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said first pair of races;
• b) a second transmission stage, including:
• i) a second pair of races defining therebetween a second toroidal cavity;
• iii) a second set of rollers in said second toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said second pair of races;
• c) a mechanical ratio control linkage interconnecting the rollers of said first set and of said second set, said mechanical ratio control linkage when displaced inducing a simultaneous change of the spatial position of the rollers of said first set and of said second set in said first and second toroidal cavities, respectively, thereby producing a coordinated transmission ratio change in said first and second stages.

A multi-stage continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a) a first transmission stage, including:
• i) a first pair of races defining therebetween a first toroidal cavity;
• ii) a first set of rollers in said first toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said first pair of races;
• b) a second transmission stage, including:
• i) a second pair of races defining therebetween a second toroidal cavity;
• iii) a second set of rollers in said second toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said second pair of races
• c) said first pair of races and said second pair of races being rotatable about a common axis;
• d) a ratio control device angularly movable about said common axis to induce a simultaneous change of the spatial position of the rollers of said first set and of said second set in said first and second toroidal cavities, respectively, thereby producing a coordinated transmission ratio change in said first and second stages.

A continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a) a pair of races defining therebetween a toroidal cavity;
• b) a set of rollers in said toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said pair of races;
• c) a support for supporting said set of rollers in said toroidal cavity, said rollers being mounted to said support via respective ball joints allowing each roller to:
• i) tilt about a first imaginary axis that intersects respective points of contact of the roller with the respective races;
• ii) tilt about a second imaginary axis that is perpendicular to said first imaginary axis and that produces a change in an angle between the roller and the respective races, thereby varying a ratio of the transmission.

A continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a) a pair of races defining therebetween a toroidal cavity;
• b) a set of rollers in said toroidal cavity to transfer rotary motion between said pair of races;
• c) a mounting structure for supporting said set of rollers in said toroidal cavity, said mounting structure allowing each roller to:
• i) tilt about a first imaginary axis that intersects respective points of contact of the roller with the respective races;
• ii) tilt about a second imaginary axis that is perpendicular to said first imaginary axis and that produces a change in an angle between the roller and the respective races, thereby varying a ratio of the transmission;
• iii) lock the roller against a translational movement with respect to said pair of races.

Electrical power generating arrangement, comprising:

• a) a driveline including an electrical generator for use in supplying electrical power to a load, a continuously variable transmission and an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine drives the electrical generator via the continuously variable transmission;
• b) first and second flywheels in the driveline, the continuously variable transmission being mounted in the driveline between the first and second flywheels;
• c) the first flywheel having a lower inertia than the second flywheel;
• d) the first flywheel being upstream the second flywheel with relation to a power flow direction in the driveline from the internal combustion engine to the electrical generator.