US 6,689,012 B2 · Continuously variable transmission

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.

Claims73

Dependent claims

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to provide rotational force to the drive disk;
at least two axial force generators, the axial force generators located between the drive disk and the bearing disk, each axial force generator configured to apply a component of an axial force to the drive disk, thereby improving the contact of the drive disk and the speed adjusters.

3 more elements

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

a plurality of spherical speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of generally cylindrical spindles having two ends, wherein one spindle is positioned in the bore of each speed adjuster;
a plurality of spindle supports having a platform end and spindle end, wherein two spindle supports are provided for each spindle, and wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles;
a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is rotatably attached to the spindle end of each spindle support;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
and
annular first and second stationary supports each having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters, each of the first and second stationary supports also having a concave surface on the first side, and wherein the first stationary support is located adjacent to the drive disk and the second stationary support is located adjacent to the driven disk.

6 more elements

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

a plurality of spherical speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation and a bore through its center, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of generally cylindrical spindles having two ends, wherein one spindle is positioned in the bore of each speed adjuster;
a plurality of spindle supports having a platform end and a spindle end, wherein two spindle supports are provided for each spindle, and wherein the spindle end of each spindle support is operably engaged with one of the two ends of one of the plurality of spindles;
a plurality of stationary support wheels, wherein at least one stationary support wheel is rotatably attached to the spindle end of each spindle support;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters and having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side facing away from the speed adjusters;
a driven disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a second point on each of the speed adjusters;
a generally cylindrical support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a third point on each speed adjuster;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and adapted to transfer rotational force to the drive disk;
a first stationary support having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side that faces away from the speed adjusters and having a concave surface on the first side;
a second stationary support having a first side facing the speed adjusters and a second side that faces away from the speed adjusters and having a concave surface on the first side, and;
a coiled spring positioned between the bearing disk and the drive disk adapted to engage the drive disk with the speed adjusters upon supply of an input rotation into the transmission.

8 more elements

A continuously variable transmission having a longitudinal axis, comprising;

a plurality of speed adjusters, each having a tiltable axis of rotation, and each speed adjuster located radially outward from the longitudinal axis;
a drive disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and contacting a first point on each of the speed adjusters;
a support member annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis and positioned axially between the speed adjusters;
a bearing disk annularly rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
a set of annular bearings located between the drive disk and the bearing disk that transmit rotational and axial force from the bearing disk to the drive disk and are held in an annular and radial orientation by a bearing cage;
and
disengagement mechanism positioned between the bearing disk and the drive disk adapted to disconnect the drive disk from the speed adjusters, the disengagement mechanism comprising;
at least one toothed wheel;
at least one pawl adapted to engage the at least one toothed wheel and thereby stop rotation of the at least one toothed wheel;
at least one lever adapted to engage the at least one pawl with the at least one toothed wheel;
and
a preloader, having first and second ends, that is a resilient clamping support for the at least one toothed wheel and at least one pawl, wherein the preloader is positioned coaxially around the longitudinal axis of the transmission, and wherein the first end of the preloader supports at least one of the at least one toothed wheels, engages the bearing cage and is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis at a different rotational speed than the second end of the preloader, which second end supports at least one of the at least one pawl, thereby allowing relative motion between the at least one of the at least one pawl and the at least one of the at least one toothed wheel allowing engagement thereof, which prevents the drive disk from engaging the speed adjusters until an input force is applied to the transmission.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuously variable transmission

Life of this patent

Continuously variable transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims73