Continuously variable transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709138-B2
Application number	US-201615155508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Nov 22, 2005
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

Traction planets and traction rings can be operationally coupled to a planetary gearset to provide a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be used in a bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on the frame of the bicycle at a location forward of the rear wheel hub of the bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on and supported by members of the bicycle frame such that the CVT is coaxial with the crankshaft of the bicycle. The crankshaft is configured to drive elements of the planetary gearset, which are configured to operationally drive the traction rings and the traction planets. Inventive component and subassemblies for such a CVT are disclosed. A shifting mechanism includes a plurality of pivot arms arranged to pivot about the centers of the traction planets as a shift pin hub moves axially.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A continuously variable transmission for integrating within a frame of a bicycle, comprising:
a planetary gear set comprising
a planet carrier coupled to a set of planet gears, the planet carrier configured to receive a torque input from a set of cranks,
a fixed ring gear, and
a sun gear, wherein rotation of the planet gears drives the sun gear; and

a variator, comprising
an input ring coupled to the sun gear via an axial force generation mechanism comprising a cam loader having a set of bearings in contact with a set of ramps,
a plurality of tiltable traction planets arranged about a crankshaft of the bicycle, each tiltable traction planet in contact with the input ring,
an output ring, operationally coupled to the plurality of traction planets, each tiltable traction planet in contact with the output ring,
a cage, and
an idler in contact with the plurality of tiltable traction planets.

2. The continuously variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein the output ring is integrated with a support structure for the variator.

3. The continuously variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein the planet carrier is connected to the cage, and wherein torque is supplied to the variator from the sun gear and the planet carrier.

4. The continuously variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein the cage is fixed to the frame, and wherein torque is supplied to the variator through the input ring.

5. The continuously variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein a housing of the continuously variable transmission forms part of a bottom bracket.

6. A bicycle, comprising:
a plurality of frame members;
a continuously variable transmission coupled to at least one of the plurality of frame members, the continuously variable transmission comprising
a planetary gear set comprising
a planet carrier coupled to a set of planet gears, the planet carrier configured to receive a torque input from a set of cranks,
a fixed ring gear, and
a sun gear, wherein rotation of the planet gears drives the sun gear; and

a variator, comprising
an input ring coupled to the sun gear via an axial force generation mechanism comprising a cam loader having a set of bearings in contact with a set of ramps,
a plurality of tiltable traction planets arranged about a crankshaft of the bicycle, each tiltable traction planet in contact with the input ring,
an output ring operationally coupled to the plurality of traction planets, each tiltable traction planet in contact with the output ring,
a cage, and
an idler in contact with the plurality of tiltable traction planets.

7. The bicycle of claim 6 , wherein the output ring is integrated with a support structure for the variator.

8. The bicycle of claim 6 , wherein the planet carrier is connected to the cage, and wherein torque is supplied to the variator from the sun gear and the planet carrier.

9. The bicycle of claim 6 , wherein the cage is fixed to the frame, and wherein torque is supplied to the variator through the input ring.

10. The bicycle of claim 6 , wherein a housing of the continuously variable transmission forms part of a bottom bracket.

Assignees

• Fallbrook Ip Co Llc

Inventors

• Miller Donald C
• Smithson Robert A
• Pohl Brad P
• Lohr Charles B
• Nichols Jon M

Classifications

• F16H15/52 Primary

  in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member · CPC title

• F16H15/28

  with external friction surface · CPC title

• Y10T74/20177

  Particular element [e.g., shift fork, template, etc.] · CPC title

• B62M11/145

  built in, or adjacent to, the bottom bracket · CPC title

• Y10T74/19851

  Gear and rotary bodies · CPC title