Planetary powertrain configurations with a ball variator continuously variable transmission used as a powersplit
OwnerGordon M. McIndoe, Travis J. Miller +1inventors
InventorsGordon M. McIndoe, Travis J. Miller, Sebastian J. Peters
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Abstract
Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly having two arrays of balls, a planetary gear set coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to the gear sets to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes.
Claims82
A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- a first rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power;
- a second rotatable shaft aligned coaxial to the first rotatable shaft, the first rotatable shaft and second rotatable shaft forming a main axis of the transmission;
- a third rotatable shaft aligned parallel to the main axis;
- a variator assembly having a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a first plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation;
- wherein the variator assembly is coaxial with the main axis, the first traction ring assembly is coupled to the second rotatable shaft;
- a first planetary gear set arranged coaxial with the main axis having a first sun gear coupled to the first rotatable shaft, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear;
- a second planetary gear set arranged coaxial with the main axis having a second planet carrier operably coupled to the first ring gear, a second ring gear operably coupled to the first planet carrier, and a second sun gear coupled to the second rotatable shaft;
- a third planetary gear set arranged coaxial with the third rotatable shaft, the third planetary gear set having a third sun gear, a third ring gear, and a third planet carrier that is grounded;
- a forward clutch operably coupled to the third sun gear and positioned coaxial with the third rotatable shaft;
- and
- a reverse clutch operably coupled to the forward clutch and the third sun gear.
A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- a first rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power;
- a second rotatable shaft aligned coaxial to the first rotatable shaft, the first rotatable shaft and second rotatable shaft forming a main axis of the transmission;
- a variator assembly having a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a first plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation;
- wherein the variator assembly is coaxial with the main axis;
- a first planetary gear set arranged coaxial with the main axis having a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear;
- a second planetary gear set arranged coaxial with the main axis having a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear;
- wherein the first planetary gear set is coupled to the second planetary gear set;
- and
- wherein the variator assembly is coupled to the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.