Back to results
US 2010/0199805 A1Published application
Continuously variable transmission
OwnerRobert Charles Downsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides continuously variable transmissions and associated powertrains and automotive transmission systems. Included among the transmission systems provided are efficient transmissions for employing regenerative braking.
Claims27
A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- an input shaft that rotates relative to a reference frame;
- an input disk comprising a face and a rotational axis at a center of the face, wherein the input disk is operably connected to the input shaft such that the input disk rotates about the rotational axis, relative to the reference frame, when the input shaft rotates;
- a crank pin movably attached to the face of the input disk, wherein the crank pin is movable between at least a first position and a second position on the face of the input disk;
- and
- an output element that comprises:
- a bell crank that comprises an arm and a pivot end;
- a connecting rod that connects the crank pin to an attachment point on the arm of the bell crank;
- a one-way clutch attached to the pivot end of the bell crank;
- and
- a clutch-driven output shaft operably connected to the one-way clutch.
7 more elements
A regenerative braking system that comprises a driveshaft, a flywheel, an engine, and:
- a) a first continuously variable transmission configured to operate in overdrive mode to transmit rotational motion from the driveshaft to the flywheel;
- b) a second continuously variable transmission configured to operate in an underdrive mode to transmit rotational motion from the engine or the flywheel to a driveshaft;
- c) an engine input clutch;
- d) a flywheel input clutch;
- and
- e) an output clutch.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.