CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE PLANETARY GEAR SET

摘要

A continuously variable planetary gear set (401) is described having a generally tubular idler (18), a plurality of balls (1) distributed radially about the idler (18), each ball (1) having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc (34) positioned adjacent to the balls (1) and in contact with each of the balls (1), a rotatable output disc (101) positioned adjacent to the balls (1) opposite the input disc (34) and in contact with each of the balls (1) such that each of the balls (1) makes three-point contact with the input disc (34), the output disc (101) and the idler (18), and a rotatable cage (89) adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls (1), wherein the axes of the balls (1) are oriented by the axial position of the idler (18).