Input clutch assembly for infinitely variable transmission
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorsGlen S. Hawkins, Jr., Brian Schoolcraft, James A. Raszkowski, David E. Earhart, Gary Reichanadter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an infinitely variable transmission for a powered vehicle which includes a power source. The transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, the output shaft being spaced from the input shaft. The transmission further includes a variator coupled between the input shaft and output shaft. In addition, at least two planetary gearsets are disposed adjacent to the variator and an input coupler is configured to selectively couple the variator to the power source.
Claims21
An infinitely variable transmission powered by a power source of a vehicle, the transmission having three operating modes, comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft spaced from the input shaft;
- a toroidal variator coupled between the input shaft and output shaft;
- an input coupler configured to selectively transfer power from the power source to the toroidal variator;
- a planetary gearset disposed adjacent to the toroidal variator;
- and
- a first clutch assembly, a second clutch assembly, and a third clutch assembly, each of the first clutch assembly, second clutch assembly, and third clutch assembly being disposable in an engaged position or a disengaged position;
- wherein only the first clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a first mode, only the second clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a second mode, and only the third clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a third mode, wherein each of the first clutch assembly, the second clutch assembly, and the third clutch assembly are operatively connected between the input shaft and the output shaft;
- wherein in the first mode, i) the transmission is operable in a reverse, a gear neutral, and a first forward mode, ii) only the first clutch assembly is in its engaged position, and iii) the second and third clutch assemblies are in their disengaged positions.
An infinitely variable transmission having three operating modes, comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft spaced from the input shaft;
- a toroidal variator coupled between the input shaft and output shaft;
- a plurality of planetary gearsets disposed adjacent to the toroidal variator;
- and
- a first clutch assembly, a second clutch assembly, and a third clutch assembly, each of the first clutch assembly, second clutch assembly, and third clutch assembly being disposable in an engaged position or a disengaged position such that only the first clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a first operating mode, only the second clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a second orating mode, and only the third clutch assembly is disposed in its engaged position in a third operating mode;
- wherein in the first mode and with the first clutch assembly engaged, the transmission is operable in a reverse, a gear neutral, and a first forward mode;
- wherein only the first clutch assembly is engaged in the first mode, only the second clutch assembly is engaged in the second mode, and only the third clutch assembly is engaged in the third mode, and any other clutch assembly in each of the first, second and third modes is disengaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.