Split power infinitely variable transmission architecture incorporating a planetary type ball variator with low variator loading at vehicle launch
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorBrian Schoolcraft
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, at least four planetary gearsets, a variable-ratio unit, and at least four clutches. The input shaft is configured to receive torque from a drive unit. The output shaft is configured to transmit torque to a load. The at least four planetary gearsets, the variable-ratio unit, and the at least four clutches are arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft. The at least four clutches are selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least four operating modes.
Claims19
A transmission comprising:
- an input shaft configured to receive torque from a drive unit,
- an output shaft configured to transmit torque to a load,
- at least four planetary gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft,
- a variable-ratio unit arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, and
- at least four clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least four clutches being selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least four operating modes.
A transmission comprising:
- a housing,
- an input shaft configured to receive torque from a drive unit,
- an output shaft configured to transmit torque to a load,
- a variable-ratio unit arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the variable-ratio unit being configured to output torque from an input of the variable-ratio unit to an output of the variable-ratio unit,
- at least four planetary gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least four planetary gearsets including (i) a first planetary gearset coupled to the input shaft and the variable-ratio unit and (ii) a second planetary gearset coupled to the first planetary gearset, the variable-ratio unit, and the housing, and
- at least four clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least four clutches being selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least four operating modes.
A transmission comprising:
- a housing,
- an input shaft configured to receive torque from a drive unit,
- an output shaft configured to transmit torque to a load,
- a variable-ratio unit arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft,
- at least four planetary gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least four planetary gearsets including (i) a first planetary gearset coupled to the input shaft and the variable-ratio unit and (ii) a second planetary gearset coupled to the first planetary gearset, the variable-ratio unit, and the housing, and
- at least four clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least four clutches selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least four operating modes, the at least four clutches including (i) a first pair of clutches engageable in combination with one another to couple a first element of the second planetary gearset to a first element of the first planetary gearset in one of the at least four operating modes and (ii) a second pair of clutches engageable in combination with one another to couple the first element of the second planetary gearset to the first element of the first planetary gearset in another of the at least four operating modes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.