Continuous variable transmission
US6595884B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2037/104
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission has two planetary units organized about a common axis, with each unit including a sun member, a ring member, planet elements located between the sun and ring members, and carrier members providing axes about which the planet elements rotate. The two units are connected mechanically and through two variators, each of which preferably takes the form of a motor-generator. The arrangement creates two paths for transferring power from an input shaft to an output shaft—one path being a planetary path and the other a variator path. When power transfers through the variator path, one variator functions as a generator and the other as a motor. Between the two variators is a control unit which controls the amount of power transferred through the variator path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.