Patent · US Expired

Continuously-variable-ratio transmissions

US5643121A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 1995
Grant dateJul 1, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16H2037/104
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A continuous-variable ratio transmission comprising a ratio-varying unit ("variator"), and an epicyclic unit having three outputs arranged concentrically. Two of those outputs are connected respectively in fixed ratio to opposite ends of the variator, so that as the variator ratio changes, the speed of one of these outputs always rises and that of the other falls. These two outputs are also connected by appropriate gearing and clutches to the CVT output shaft. Successive regimes of operation, so extending the overall ratio range of the CVT, are obtained by alternatively connecting each of the two epicyclic outputs to the CVT output. Ratios and other parameters are chosen so that regime changes are synchronous.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.