CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE PLANETARY IDLER SUPPORT BEARING TO IMPROVE OR REDUCE BEARING SPEEDS AND ALLOW IDLER ASSEMBLY AXIAL MOVEMENT

摘要

A continuously variable ball planetary variator comprising a main shaft, an input ring, an output ring, carriers and planets, and further comprising an improved idler support bearing capable of handling axial movement and higher differential rotational speeds between the main shaft and the idler assembly inner race. One improvement includes a continuously variable ball planetary variator comprising a main shaft, an input ring, an output ring, carriers and planets with an improved idler support bearing comprising; an idler bearing with an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race, wherein one bearing race is a split bearing race and one bearing race is a cylindrical bearing race, wherein the split bearing race has a preload between the bearings, and wherein the cylindrical bearing race allows axial movement of the idler assembly, and wherein the idler bearings comprise radial ball bearings to achieve said axial movement.

主权项

1. A continuously variable ball planetary variator comprising:
a main shaft; an input ring assembly; an output ring assembly; a plurality of tiltable planets each comprising an axle therethrough; wherein the input ring assembly is drivingly engaged to the plurality of planets and the output ring assembly is drivingly engaged to the plurality of planets; a first carrier coupled to the main shaft through a first carrier bearing; a second carrier coupled to the main shaft through a second carrier bearing; wherein the plurality of tiltable planets are coupled to the first and second carriers through the axles; and an idler assembly supporting the tiltable planets comprising;
a first idler,a second idler,an idler thrust bearing,an idler support bearing comprising;a first bearing comprising a first bearing race,a second bearing comprising a second bearing race,a plurality of bearing balls, anda third bearing race, wherein the first bearing race and second bearing race are each a standard grooved bearing race supporting the plurality of bearing balls, and the third bearing race is a cylindrical bearing race in contact with the plurality of bearing balls.