Continuously variable transmission with controlling brakes

摘要

A variable transmission includes an input shaft with an input sun gear mounted thereon and a differential gear carrier rotatably mounted thereon to enable independent rotation about input shaft. A transmission shaft is coaxially mounted on input shaft. A differential gear carrier is rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft. A plurality of pins interlink carriers to enable simultaneous rotation. A first differential gear is rotatably mounted on each pin, and each gear is meshed with an input sun gear. A control ring gear is rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft with the controlling gear meshed with each differential gear. A plurality of rods rotatably secures each carrier to enable rotation about its axis and to enable simultaneous rotation of the carriers. An output shaft terminating in an output ring gear is rotatably mounted relative to the input shaft. A second differential gear is rotatably mounted on each rod and is meshed with the gear differential and output ring gear. A planetary gear is mounted on each rod and each planetary gear is meshed with the sun gear of the transmission shaft. A first brake mechanism applies rotational resistance to the control ring gear such that when the control ring gear is frictionally engaged, the rotation of the control ring gear decreases. Thus, torque is applied to the output ring gear to initiate and maintain rotation of output ring gear and, upon further frictional engagement which stops rotation of the control ring, the rotational speed of the output ring gear further increases.