US 6,471,617 B1Granted

Infinitely variable toroidal drive

AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG

InventorsWalter Kuhn, Jürgen Wafzig

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An infinitely variable toroidal drive comprising a housing (1), an input shaft (3), a torque converter (34), two input discs (5, 15) with toroidal surfaces, two output discs (6, 16) with toroidal surfaces wherein one input disc and one output disc each form a pair and the two output discs are arranged next to each other with mirror symmetry, several friction wheels for transmitting a torque from the input disc to the corresponding output disc, an output shaft (10) and a gearwheel system (8, 9) between output discs and output shaft, there being removably fastened on the transmission housing (1) a holding frame (2) having: an upper portion (28), a lower portion (29), fastening devices (20, 30 and 46, 47) for fastening pivots (42, 43 and 48, 49) and a bearing support member (7) which connects the upper portion (28) with the lower portion (29) and in which is situated at least one bearing (24) for the gear wheel (8).

Claims7

Dependent claims

An infinitely variable toroidal drive comprising:

a housing (1), an input shaft (3) and an output shaft (10);
a torque shaft (34) disposed co-axially with respect to the input shaft (3);
two input discs (5, 15) defining toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3);
two output discs (6, 16) with toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3) so that a first one of the input discs (5) and a first one of the output discs (6) together form a first pair of input discs and output discs, a second one of the input discs (15) and a second one of the output discs (16) together form a second pair of input discs and output discs and the two output discs are arranged adjacent one another in mirror symmetry;
a plurality of friction wheels (11, 21) disposed between the toroidal surfaces of the first and second pairs of input discs and output discs;
a carrier (12, 22) for the plurality of friction wheels (11, 21);
a pair of upper transverse yokes (40 and 41) and a pair of lower transverse yokes (50 and 51) supporting the carriers (12, 22);
a pressure device (4) for producing a torque-dependent axial force for loading the input discs by relative movement of the output discs toward one another;
a gear system (8, 9) comprising an input gear wheel (8) and an output gear wheel (9), the output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the input gear wheel (8) is located between the output discs and connected therewith for torque transmission;
and
a stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) supporting a bearing (24) to facilitate rotation of the input gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein a holding frame (2) is fastened to the transmission housing (1), and the holding frame (2) has an upper portion (28) and a lower portion (29);
the stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) connects the upper portion (28) to the lower portion (29);
and
the upper pair of transverse yokes (40 and 41) is connected to the upper portion (28) via fasteners (20 and 30) and upper pivots (42 and 43) and the lower pair of transverse yokes (50 and 51) is connected to the lower portion (29) via fasteners (46 and 47) and lower pivots (48 and 49).

12 more elements

An infinitely variable toroidal drive comprising:

a housing (1), an input shaft (3) and an output shaft (10);
a torque shaft (34) disposed co-axially with respect to the input shaft (3);
two input discs (5, 15) defining toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3);
two output discs (6, 16) with toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3) so that a first one of the input discs (5) and a first one of the output discs (6) together form a first pair of input discs and output discs, a second one of the input discs (15) and a second one of the output discs (16) together form a second pair of input discs and output discs and the two output discs are arranged adjacent one another in mirror symmetry;
a plurality of friction wheels (11, 21) disposed between the toroidal surfaces of the first and second pairs of input discs and output discs;
a carrier (12, 22) for the plurality of friction wheels (11, 21);
a pair of upper transverse yokes (40 and 41) and a pair of lower transverse yokes (50 and 51) supporting the carriers (12, 22);
a pressure device (4) for producing a torque-dependent axial force for loading the input discs by relative movement of the output discs toward one another;
a gear system (8, 9) comprising an input gear wheel (8) and an output gearwheel (9), the output gearwheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the input gear wheel (8) is located between the output discs and connected therewith for torque transmission;
and
a stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) supporting a bearing (24) to facilitate rotation of the input gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein a holding frame (2) is fastened to the transmission housing (1), and the holding frame (2) has an upper portion (28) and a lower portion (29);
the stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) connects the upper portion (28) to the lower portion (29);
the upper pair of transverse yokes (40 and 41) is connected to the upper portion (28) via fasteners (20 and 30) and upper pivots (42 and 43) and the lower pair of transverse yokes (50 and 51) is connected to the lower portion (29) via fasteners (46 and 47) and lower pivots (48 and 49);
and
the upper portion (28) has an elongated shape and two tabs (44) are provided along each opposed longitudinal side of the upper portion (28), and each tab (44) is substantially semicircularly in shape and extends outwardly and has an opening (38) therein for connection with the housing (1).

13 more elements

An infinitely variable toroidal drive comprising:

a housing (1), an input shaft (3) and an output shaft (10);
a torque shaft (34) disposed co-axially with respect to the input shaft (3);
two input discs (5, 15) defining toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3);
two output discs (6, 16) with toroidal surfaces disposed co-axially relative to the input shaft (3) so that a first one of the input discs (5) and a first one of the output discs (6) together form a first pair of input discs and output discs, a second one of the input discs (15) and a second one of the output discs (16) together form a second pair of input discs and output discs and the two output discs are arranged adjacent one another in mirror symmetry;
a plurality of friction wheels (11, 21) disposed between the toroidal surfaces of the first and second pairs of input discs and output discs;
a carrier (12, 22) for the plurality of friction wheels (11, 21);
a pair of upper transverse yokes (40 and 41) and a pair of lower transverse yokes (50 and 51) supporting the carriers (12, 22);
a pressure device (4) for producing a torque-dependent axial force for loading the input discs by relative movement of the output discs toward one another;
a gear system (8, 9) comprising an input gear wheel (8) and an output gear wheel (9), the output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the input gear wheel (8) is located between the output discs and connected therewith for torque transmission;
and
a stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) supporting a bearing (24) to facilitate rotation of the input gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein a holding frame (2) is fastened to the transmission housing (1), and the holding frame (2) has an upper portion (28) and a lower portion (29);
the stationary cup-shaped bearing support member (7) connects the upper portion (28) to the lower portion (29);
the upper pair of transverse yokes (40 and 41) is connected to the upper portion (28) via fasteners (20 and 30) and upper pivots (42 and 43) and the lower pair of transverse yokes (50 and 51) is connected to the lower portion (29) via fasteners (46 and 47) and lower pivots (48 and 49);
and
the lower portion (29) has a substantially oval shape with a central recess (45) which accommodates a portion of a holding part (31) and a portion of the output gear wheel (9).

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.