Single cavity toroidal traction drive continually variable transmission
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsClinton Frederick Justice, Albert John Nielsen, Robert Clayton Roethler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle includes a traction drive variator having an input disc, an output disc, and rollers driveably engaged with the discs and adapted to vary continuously the ratio of the speeds of the output disc and input disc. The input disc is reversed and overdriven by a gearset whose ring gear is connected to an input shaft; carrier is held permanently; and sun gear drives the input disc. A planetary gear unit driven by the output disc produces a speed reduction in response to alternate engagement of a forward drive brake and reverse drive brake.
Claims11
A continuously variable transmission for a motor vehicle having a power source, comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a traction drive variator including a first disc, a second disc, and rollers driveably engaging the first disc and second disc at variable radial positions, for varying the rotational speed at the second disc in relation to the speed at the first disc;
- a first gearset driveably connected to the input shaft and variator for overdriving the first disc in relation to the speed of the input shaft;
- a clutch for alternately driveably connecting and releasing the input shaft and first gearset;
- a planetary gear unit driveably connected to the second disc and output shaft for producing greater torque and slower rotational speed at the output shaft than the torque and speed at the second disc;
- a reverse drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a first component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing reverse drive;
- and
- a forward drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a second component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing forward drive.
A continuously variable transmission for a motor vehicle having a power source, comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a traction drive variator including a first disc, a second disc, and rollers driveably engaging the first disc and second disc at variable radial positions, for driving the second disc in an opposite rotary direction from the direction of the first disc;
- a first gearset driveably connected to the input shaft and variator for overdriving the first disc in relation to the speed of the input shaft and reversing the direction of rotation of the first disc in relation to the rotary direction of the input shaft;
- a clutch for alternately driveably connecting and releasing the input shaft and planetary gear unit;
- a planetary gear unit driveably connected to the second disc and output shaft for producing greater torque and slower rotational speed at the output shaft than the torque and speed at the second disc;
- a reverse drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a first component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing reverse drive;
- a forward drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a second component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing forward drive.
A continuously variable transmission for a motor vehicle having a power source, comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a traction drive variator including a first disc, a second disc, and rollers driveably engaging the first disc and second disc at variable radial positions;
- a first gearset including a first sun gear driveably connected to the first disc, a first ring gear driveably connected to the clutch, a first carrier fixed against rotation, and a first set of planet pinions rotatably supporting on the first carrier and driveably engaged with the first sun gear and first ring gear;
- a clutch for alternately driveably connecting and releasing the input shaft and first ring gear;
- a planetary gear unit driveably connected to the second disc and output shaft for producing greater torque and slower rotational speed at the output shaft than the torque and speed at the second disc;
- a reverse drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a first component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing reverse drive;
- and
- a forward drive brake for alternately holding against rotation and releasing a second component of the planetary gear unit, thereby producing forward drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.