US 6,547,690 B1Granted

Infinitely variable toroidal drive

AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG

InventorsWalter Kuhn, Jürgen Wafzig

Life of this patent

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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 inner surfaces, two output discs (6, 16) with toroidal inner 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 one input disc to the corresponding output disc, an output shaft (10) and a gear wheel system (8, 9) being coupled via engaging gears (57) with an output disc (16).

Claims20

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 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 a first output gear wheel (8) and a second output gear wheel (9), the second output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the first output 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 first output gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein the bearing support member (7) supports the first output gear (8) and the bearing (24) is located therebetween to allow the first output gear (8) to rotate relative to the bearing support member (7);
one of the two output discs has an engaging spline (57) which engages with a mating engaging spline (57) of the first output gear (8), and the engaging splines (57) are located in area between the first output gear (8) and the one of the two output discs (16);
and
the first output gear (8) is located on the outside diameter of the bearing (24) which is located with its inner bore on an outer diameter of a hub integrally formed with the bearing support member (7).

11 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 a first output gear wheel (8) and a second output gear wheel (9), the second output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the first output 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 first output gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein the bearing support member (7) supports the first output gear (8) and the bearing (24) is located therebetween to allow the first output gear (8) to rotate relative to the bearing support member (7);
one of the two output discs has an engaging spline (57) which engages with a mating engaging spline (57) of the first output gear (8), and the engaging splines (57) are located in area between the first output gear (8) and the one of the two output discs (16);
and
the first output gear (8) is located on the outside diameter of the bearing (24) which is located with its inner bore on an outer diameter of a hub integrally formed with the bearing support member (7).

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 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 a first output gear wheel (8) and a second output gear wheel (9), the second output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the first output, 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 first output gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from, the output discs;
wherein the bearing support member (7) supports the first output gear (8) and the bearing (24) is located therebetween to allow the first output gear (8) to rotate relative to the bearing support member (7);
one of the two output discs has an engaging spline (57) which engages with a mating engaging spline (57) of the first output gear (8), and the engaging splines (57) are located in area between the first output gear (8) and the one of the two output discs (16);
and
outwardly facing teeth of the first output gear wheel (8) form part of the engaging splines (57) and inwardly facing teeth of an outer ring (56) form a remaining portion of the engaging splines (57) and mesh with the outwardly facing teeth of the first output gear wheel (8);
and
the first output gear (8) is located on the outside diameter of the bearing (24) which is located with its inner bore on an outer diameter of a hub integrally formed with the bearing support member (7).

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

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 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 a first output gear wheel (8) and a second output gear wheel (9), the second output gear wheel (9) being supported by the output shaft and the first output 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 first output gear wheel (8) and transmission of torque from the output discs;
wherein the bearing support member (7) supports the first output gear (8) and the bearing (24) is located therebetween to allow the first output gear (8) to rotate relative to the bearing support member (7);
one of the two output discs has an engaging spline (57) which engages with a mating engaging spline (57) of the first output gear (8), and the engaging splines (57) are located in area between the first output gear (8) and the one of the two output discs (16);
and
the first output gear (8) is located on the outside diameter of the bearing (24) which is located with its inner bore on an outer diameter of a hub integrally formed with the bearing support member (7).

11 more elements