FOUR MODE POWERTRAIN CONFIGURATIONS WITH A BALL VARIATOR CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION USED AS A POWERSPLIT

摘要

Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly, a planetary gearset coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to the gear sets to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes.

主权项

1. A continuously variable transmission comprising:
a first rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power; a second rotatable shaft aligned substantially coaxial to the first rotatable shaft, the first rotatable shaft and second rotatable shaft forming a main axis of the transmission; a third rotatable shaft aligned substantially parallel to the main axis; a variator assembly having a first traction ring and a second traction ring in contact with a plurality of traction planets, each traction planet having a tiltable axis of rotation; wherein the variator assembly is coaxial with the main axis; a first planetary gearset having a first planet carrier, a first sun gear, and a first ring gear; wherein the first sun gear is coupled to the first traction ring, the first ring gear is coupled to the second traction ring, and the first planet carrier is coupled to the first rotatable shaft; a second planetary gear set operably coupled to the third rotatable shaft, the second planetary gear set having a second planet carrier, a second sun gear, and a second ring gear; a first clutch positioned coaxial with the third rotatable shaft; a second clutch coupled to the first clutch, the second clutch coaxial with the third rotatable shaft; a third clutch coaxial with the third rotatable shaft; and a fourth clutch operably coupled to the second planetary gear set.