Toroidal continuously variable transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746267-B2
Application number	US-201716345055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

A toroidal continuously variable transmission includes a preload spring disposed between a rotary assembly including a first disc and a pressing device, and a driving force transmission shaft, and a thrust bearing disposed between a first member and the preload spring, the first member being one of the rotary assembly and the driving force transmission shaft. In a direction of an axis line, a gap is formed between a second member and the thrust bearing, the second member being the other of the rotary assembly and the driving force transmission shaft. A dimension of the gap in the direction of the axis line is less than a deformation amount of the preload spring in the direction of the axis line, at an elastic limit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A toroidal continuously variable transmission comprising:
a driving force transmission shaft;
a first disc disposed coaxially with the driving force transmission shaft;
a rotary assembly including a second disc facing the first disc, and a pressing device which presses the second disc toward the first disc, the rotary assembly being disposed coaxially with the driving force transmission shaft;
a power roller which is tiltably disposed between the first disc and the second disc;
a preload spring disposed between the pressing device and the driving force transmission shaft, the preload spring being configured to apply a preload to the rotary assembly in a direction of an axis line about which the driving force transmission shaft rotates so that the rotary assembly is pressed toward the first disc; and
a thrust bearing disposed between a first member and the preload spring, the first member being one of the rotary assembly and the driving force transmission shaft,
wherein in the direction of the axis line, a gap is formed between a second member and the thrust bearing, the second member being the other of the rotary assembly and the driving force transmission shaft, and
wherein a dimension of the gap in the direction of the axis line is less than a deformation amount of the preload spring in the direction of the axis line, at an elastic limit.

2. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 ,
wherein the thrust bearing includes a spring contact portion which contacts the preload spring, and a stopper portion provided at a location that is deviated from the spring contact portion in a radial direction, the stopper portion facing the second member in the direction of the axis line, with the gap between the stopper portion and the second member.

3. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 2 ,
wherein the stopper portion is disposed radially outward of the spring contact portion.

4. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second disc has a cam surface on a side opposite to the first disc, and
wherein the pressing device is a pressing device of a loading cam type, including a cam plate having a cam surface facing the cam surface of the second disc, and a roller sandwiched between the cam surface of the second disc and the cam surface of the cam plate.

5. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 3 ,
wherein the second disc has a cam surface on a side opposite to the first disc, and
wherein the pressing device is a pressing device of a loading cam type, including a cam plate having a cam surface facing the cam surface of the second disc, and a roller sandwiched between the cam surface of the second disc and the cam surface of the cam plate.

6. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 3 ,
wherein the thrust bearing includes rolling elements and an outer race, and
wherein the outer race includes a ring portion supporting the rolling elements in the radial direction, the spring contact portion protruding radially inward from the ring portion, and the stopper portion protruding radially outward from the ring portion, at a location that is more distant from the preload spring than the spring contact portion in the direction of the axis line.

7. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 6 ,
wherein the second disc has a cam surface on a side opposite to the first disc, and
wherein the pressing device is a pressing device of a loading cam type, including a cam plate having a cam surface facing the cam surface of the second disc, and a roller sandwiched between the cam surface of the second disc and the cam surface of the cam plate.

8. The toroidal continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second disc has a cam surface on a side opposite to the first disc, and
wherein the pressing device is a pressing device of a loading cam type, including a cam plate having a cam surface facing the cam surface of the second disc, and a roller sandwiched between the cam surface of the second disc and the cam surface of the cam plate.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd
• Nsk Ltd

Inventors

• Matsuda Kippei
• Imai Hideyuki
• Tanaka Kenichiro
• Komatsu Kenji
• Inoue Eiji
• Inoue Tomohiro
• Shirota Daiki
• Kita Masahiro

Classifications

• B64D41/00 Primary

  Power installations for auxiliary purposes · CPC title

• F16H61/6649

  characterised by the means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing · CPC title

• F02C7/32

  Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries · CPC title

• F05D2220/764

  of the alternating current (A.C.) type · CPC title

• F16H15/38 Primary

  with two members B having hollow toroid surfaces opposite to each other, the member or members A being adjustably mounted between the surfaces · CPC title