# US 2014/0194243 A1 · Ball type continuously variable transmission/infinitely variable transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194243 A1 - Document ID: US20140194243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/020,593 - Filed: 2013-09-06 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-07 - Assignees: Dana Corporation - Applicants: Dana Limited - Inventors: Mark R.J. Versteyhe; Matthias W.J. Byltiauw; James F. Ziech - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194243A1 ## CPC - F16H 15/52: in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member - F16H 15/503: {in which two members co-operate by means of balls or rollers of uniform effective diameter, not mounted on shafts} - F16H 37/022: {the toothed gearing having orbital motion} - F16H 37/0853: {CVT using friction between rotary members having a first member of uniform effective diameter cooperating with different parts of a second member} - F16H 2037/026: {Layouts with particular features of reversing gear, e.g. to achieve compact arrangement} - F16H 2037/0873: {with switching means, e.g. to change ranges} - F16H 2037/0893: {characterised in that the ratio of the continuously variable transmission is different from zero when the output shaft speed is zero} - F16H 2200/2007: with two sets of orbital gears - F16H 2200/2035: with two engaging means - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable transmission comprising: an input shaft; a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with the input shaft; a first brake mechanically coupled to an outer ring gear of the planetary gear set; a variator comprising a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly, the variator mechanically coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gear set; and a second brake mechanically coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gear set and to a first ring assembly of the variator a second ring assembly of the variator drivingly engaged to an output of the variable transmission. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein when the first brake is engaged and the second brake is disengaged, the ring gear of the planetary gear set and a carrier of the variator are held fixed, thereby engaging a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein power passes through the sun gear of the planetary gear set to the first ring assembly when the transmission is in a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein when the second brake is engaged and the first brake is disengaged, the sun gear of the planetary gear set and the first ring assembly are held fixed, thereby engaging an infinitely variable mode. ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The variable transmission of claim 1, wherein a transition between a continuously variable mode and an infinitely variable mode is accomplished by simultaneously releasing one of the first brake and the second brake while applying the other of the first brake and the second brake. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 A variable transmission comprising: an input shaft; a planetary gear set having a ring gear drivingly engaged with the input shaft; a variator comprising a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly, the second ring assembly driving engaged to an output of the variable transmission; a planetary gear carrier coupled to a first brake and to the first ring assembly; and a sun gear coupled to a second brake and a variator carrier. ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The variable transmission of claim 13, wherein when the second brake is engaged and the first brake is disengaged, the sun gear of the planetary gear set is fixed with a carrier of the variator to engage a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The variable transmission of claim 13, wherein input power passes through the ring gear of the planetary gear set to the first ring assembly when the transmission is in a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The variable transmission of claim 13, wherein when the first brake is engaged and the second brake is disengaged, a carrier of the planetary gear set and an input ring assembly is fixed, to engage an infinitely variable mode. ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The variable transmission of claim 13, wherein a transition between a continuously variable mode and an infinitely variable mode is accomplished by simultaneously releasing one of the first brake and the second brake while applying the other of the first brake and the second brake. ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (canceled) ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 A variable transmission comprising: an input shaft; a variator comprising a first ring assembly, a second ring assembly, and a carrier assembly, wherein the second ring assembly is drivingly engaged to an output of the variable transmission; a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear drivingly engaged with the input shaft, a ring gear drivingly engaged with a variator carrier of the carrier assembly, and one or more planet gears on a planet carrier, the planet gears disposed in mechanical engagement between the sun gear and the ring gear; a first brake coupled to the ring gear and configured to hold the ring gear fixed when the first brake is engaged; and a second brake coupled to the planet carrier and the first ring assembly, and configured to hold the planet carrier fixed when the second brake is engaged. ### Claim 26 (canceled) ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The variable transmission of claim 25, wherein when the first brake is engaged and the second brake is disengaged, the ring gear and the variator carrier are fixed to engage a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The variable transmission of claim 25, wherein input power passes through the planetary carrier to the first ring assembly when the transmission is in a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The variable transmission of claim 25, wherein when the second brake is engaged and the first brake is disengaged, the planet carrier and the first ring assembly are held fixed by the second brake to engage an infinitely variable mode. ### Claim 30 (canceled) ### Claim 31 (canceled) ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The variable transmission of claim 25, wherein a transition between a continuously variable mode and an infinitely variable mode is accomplished by simultaneously releasing one of the first brake and the second brake while applying the other of the first brake and the second brake. ### Claim 33 (canceled) ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (canceled) ### Claim 36 (canceled) ### Claim 37 (canceled) ### Claim 38 A variable transmission comprising: an input shaft; a variator comprising a first ring assembly, a second ring assembly, and a carrier assembly, wherein the second ring assembly is drivingly engaged to the output of the variable transmission; a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear drivingly engaged with the input shaft, a ring gear drivingly engaged with the first ring assembly, and one or more planet gears on a planet carrier, the planet gears disposed in mechanical engagement between the sun gear and the ring gear; a first brake coupled to the first ring assembly and configured to hold the ring gear of the planetary gear set and the first ring assembly fixed when the first brake is engaged; and a second brake coupled to the planet carrier and a variator carrier of the carrier assembly, and configured to hold the planet carrier and the variator carrier fixed when the second brake is engaged. ### Claim 39 (canceled) ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The variable transmission of claim 38, wherein when the second brake is engaged and the first brake is disengaged, the planet carrier and the variator carrier are held fixed to engage a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The variable transmission of claim 38, wherein power passes through the planetary ring gear and goes to the first ring assembly when the transmission is in a continuously variable mode. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The variable transmission of claim 38, wherein when the first brake is engaged and the second brake is disengaged, the ring gear and the first ring assembly are held fixed to engage an infinitely variable mode. ### Claim 43 (canceled) ### Claim 44 (canceled) ### Claim 45 (depends on 38) The variable transmission of claim 38, wherein a transition between continuously variable mode and infinitely variable mode is accomplished by simultaneously releasing one of the first brake and the second brake while applying the other of the first brake and the second brake. ### Claim 46 (canceled) ### Claim 47 (canceled) ### Claim 48 (canceled) ### Claim 49 (canceled) ### Claim 50 A variable transmission comprising: an input shaft; a clutch comprising a first clutch member coupled to the input shaft and a second clutch member; a variator comprising a first ring assembly having the second clutch member formed thereon, a second ring assembly drivingly engaged to an output of the variable transmission, and a carrier assembly; a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear drivingly engaged with the input shaft, one or more planet gears on a planet carrier that is drivingly engaged with a variator carrier of the carrier assembly, wherein a ring gear of the planetary gear set is held fixed; and a first brake coupled to the first ring assembly configured to hold the first ring assembly fixed when the first brake is engaged, wherein the first ring assembly is drivingly engaged with the input shaft when the first clutch member engages the second clutch member. ### Claim 51 (canceled) ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The variable transmission of claim 50, wherein when the clutch is engaged, both the first ring assembly and the variator carrier are driven in order to engage a combined continuously variable/infinitely variable mode (CVP/IVP mode). ### Claim 53 (canceled) ### Claim 54 (depends on 50) The variable transmission of claim 50, wherein when the first ring assembly is held fixed with the brake and the clutch is disengaged, an infinitely variable mode is engaged. ### Claim 55 (canceled) ### Claim 56 (depends on 50) The variable transmission of claim 50, wherein the variator provides a reverse function, a standstill function and a low speed function in the infinitely variable mode. ### Claim 57 (depends on 50) The variable transmission of claim 50, wherein a transition between a combined continuously variable/infinitely variable mode (CVP/IVP mode) and an infinitely variable (IVP) mode is accomplished by disengaging the clutch and engaging the brake. ### Claim 58 (canceled) ### Claim 59 (canceled) ### Claim 60 (canceled) ### Claim 61 (canceled) ### Claim 62 (canceled) ### Claim 63 (canceled) ### Claim 64 (canceled) ### Claim 65 (canceled) ### Claim 66 (canceled) ### Claim 67 (canceled) ### Claim 68 (canceled) ### Claim 69 (canceled) ### Claim 70 (canceled)