The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 12, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 03, 2008
Christopher John Greenwood, Preston, GB;
Philip Duncan Winter, Blackburn, GB;
David Burt, Chorley, GB;
Christopher John Greenwood, Preston, GB;
Philip Duncan Winter, Blackburn, GB;
David Burt, Chorley, GB;
Torotrak (Development) Limited, Leyland, Lancashire, GB;
Abstract
The invention is concerned with a continuously variable transmission incorporating a variator of the type having at least two co-axial races (D-D) between which drive is transferred at a continuously variable variator ratio. The variator races are mounted for rotation about a variator shaft (). The transmission has a layshaft () which is laterally separated from the variator shaft. It has two epicyclic gears. A splitter epicyclic () has an input member driven from the transmission input () and two output members arranged respectively to drive the layshaft and the variator shaft. A recirculater epicyclic has first and second input members for coupling respectively to the variator shaft and to the layshaft and a recirculater output member. An arrangement of clutches is provided for selectively engaging any of at least three regimes. In one regime the recirculater output member drives the transmission output. In another the layshaft drives the transmission output. In a third, the variator shaft drives the transmission output. The arrangement of the components is such that the variator shaft is co-axial with the transmission output, the recirculater epicyclic, a first coupling, between the recirculater output member and the transmission output, which serves to drive the transmission output in the first regime, and a second coupling, between the variator shaft and the transmission output, which serves to drive the transmission output in the third above-mentioned regime.