Continuously variable planetary gear set
AssigneeFallbrook Technologies Inc.
InventorsDonald C. Miller, David J. Allen, Robert A. Smithson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.
Claims15
A power transfer assembly comprising:
- a plurality of balls distributed radially about a longitudinal axis of the power transfer assembly, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;
- an input disc in contact with the balls;
- an output disc in contact with the balls;
- an idler coaxial and rotatable about the longitudinal axis and in contact with the balls;
- a cage adapted to maintain a radial and axial orientation of the balls about the idler, wherein the cage is further adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a housing having a case and a case cap, the case cap securely attached to the case, the case and case cap enclosing the idler, discs, and balls.
A method of manufacturing a power transfer assembly, the method comprising:
- arranging a plurality of balls radially about a longitudinal axis of the power transfer assembly, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates;
- providing a first power transfer disc in contact with the balls;
- providing a second power transfer disc in contact with the balls;
- mounting an idler coaxial with the longitudinal axis and in contact with the balls;
- providing a cage adapted to maintain a radial and axial orientation of the balls about the idler, wherein the cage is further adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- providing a case and a case that are securely attached to each other;
- and wherein the the case and case cap enclose the idler, discs, and balls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.