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US 8,574,110 B2Granted
Transmission producing stepless variable speed ratios
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorDonald E. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission includes a variator including a cone secured to an input, and a second cone driveably connected to the cone, producing a variable speed ratio between the cones, a gearset including a member secured to the second cone, and second and third members, a first clutch opening and closing a connection between the input and the second member, and a second clutch opening and closing a connection between an output and the third member.
Claims18
A transmission, comprising:
- a gearset including first, second and third members;
- a variator including a cone secured to an input, a second cone secured to the first member and rotating in an opposite direction from a rotary direction of the cone, axial displacement of a ring along the cones producing a variable speed ratio;
- a first clutch releasably connecting the input and the second member;
- a second clutch releasably connecting the first and third members.
1 more element
A transmission, comprising:
- a gearset including first, second and third members;
- a variator including a cone secured to an input, a second cone secured to the first member and rotating in an opposite direction from a rotary direction of the cone, axial displacement of a ring along the cones producing a variable speed ratio;
- a first clutch releasably connecting the input and second member;
- a second clutch releasably connecting the first member, an output and third member;
- a third clutch releasably connecting the input and second member.
2 more elements
A transmission, comprising:
- a gearset including first, second and third members;
- a variator including a cone secured to an input, and a second cone rotating in an opposite direction from a rotary direction of the cone, driveably connected by a ring to the cone and secured to the first member, axial displacement of the ring along the cones producing a variable speed ratio between the cones;
- a first gearset comprising a pinion secured to the input, and a first gear meshing with the first pinion;
- a first clutch releasably connecting the input and the second member through the first pinion and the first gear;
- a second gearset comprising a second pinion concentric with the input, and a second gear meshing with the second pinion and concentric with the second member;
- a second clutch releasably connecting the first member, an output and the third member;
- a third clutch releasably connecting the input and the second member through the second gear and the second pinion.
4 more elements
A method for operation of a transmission, comprising:
- securing a variator to an input, a sun gear of a gearset and a second clutch;
- axially displacing a ring along the variator to vary a speed and rotary direction of the sun gear relative to the input;
- using a first clutch to releasably connect an input and a carrier of the gearset;
- and
- using the second clutch to releasably connect the sun gear and an output of the transmission.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.