Continuously visible transmission
AssigneeFallbrook Technologies Inc.
InventorDonald C. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.
Claims17
A bicycle comprising:
- a driving wheel hub with a longitudinal axis;
- a continuously variable transmission at least partially enclosed by the driving wheel hub further comprising;
- a rotatable driving member located coaxially about the longitudinal axis and adapted to accept input torque;
- a rotatable driven member located coaxially about the longitudinal axis and adapted to transmit torque to the hub;
- a plurality of spherical power adjusters distributed in a plane about the longitudinal axis and between the driving and driven members, wherein each power adjuster rotates about a respective adjuster axis;
- a plurality of spindles having two ends, wherein each spindle is positioned in a bore of an associated one of the power adjusters and is adapted to tilt the associated power adjuster;
- a support member providing a support surface that is in frictional contact with each of the power adjusters, wherein the support member is coaxial with and rotates about the longitudinal axis;
- first and second convex platform discs adjacent to respective first and second ends of the support member that are adapted to translate axial motion of the support member and convex platforms into a simultaneous shift of the orientation of the spindles;
- and
- at least one stationary support disc positioned axially adjacent to the plurality of power adjusters and adapted to provide direct angular support, with respect to the longitudinal axis, to the spindles as they shift in their respective planes;
- wherein each of the power adjusters makes tree-point contact with the driving member, the driven member and the support member.
A bicycle comprising:
- a wheel hub rotatable about a longitudinal axis;
- and an input disc rotatable about the longitudinal axis and adapted to accent an input torque;
- an output ring operably connected to the inside of the wheel hub and adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of spherical power adjusters distributed in a plane about the longitudinal axis, each power adjuster positioned axially between and in contact with the input disc and the output ring;
- a rotatable support member positioned coaxially about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the radial inward point of each of the power adjusters;
- two stationary support discs positioned axially adjacent to and on either axial side of the plurality of power adjusters and adapted to provide direct angular positioning of the power adjusters, respective to the longitudinal axis, via respective power adjuster axles;
- at least one convex curved platform located at an end of the support member;
- a plurality of spindles, one for each power adjuster;
- each spindle positioned in a bore in one of the power adjusters and thereby forming an axis about which the associated power adjuster rotates;
- and
- a plurality of spindle legs operably connecting the spindles to the at least one convex curved platform;
- wherein a shift in the axial position of the at least one convex curved platform and the support member is translated into a corresponding simultaneous shift of the alignment of each of the spindles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.