Split power infinitely variable transmission architecture incorporating a planetary type ball variator with multiple fixed ranges
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorBrian Schoolcraft
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, at least five planetary gearsets, a variable-ratio unit, and at least six 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 five planetary gearsets, the variable-ratio unit, and the at least six clutches are arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft. The at least six clutches are selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least eight operating modes.
Claims20
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 five 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 six clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least six clutches selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least eight 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 five planetary gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least five 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 six clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least six clutches selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least eight 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 five planetary gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least five 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 six clutches arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least six clutches selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of at least eight operating modes, the at least six clutches including (i) a first pair of clutches being 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 eight operating modes and (ii) a second pair of clutches being 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 eight operating modes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.