Patents Assigned to Orbital Traction Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11261957
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline system are disclosed and include a step-variable transmission. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is coupled between an input source and the step-variable transmission. The CVT receives a first torque from the input source and outputs a second torque. The CVT has a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael P. Bujold
  • Patent number: 10704688
    Abstract: A radially inner race and a radially outer race for a continuously variable transmission includes a first inner race structure and a second inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first inner race structure or the second inner race structure is axially movable. A sun shaft is coupled to the radially inner race and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner race, and a torsion damping mechanism is coupled to the first inner race structure to apply torque between the first inner race structure and the sun shaft to reduce a transition amplitude during a torque impulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Patent number: 10443692
    Abstract: A system has a pump with a power input, a power source and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the power source and to the power input of the pump. The CVT transmits power from the power source to the pump. The CVT comprises a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Schaaf, Michael P. Bujold, Joseph D. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 10302178
    Abstract: An outer race assembly for a continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic cavity housing, a first radially outer race structure spaced along an axis from a second radially outer race structure to form a radially outer race, and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially outer race. The first radially outer race structure includes nesting engagement with the hydraulic cavity housing, and a hydraulic cavity sealed between the hydraulic cavity housing and the first radially outer race structure to control axial movement of the first radially outer race structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Publication number: 20180306284
    Abstract: A system has a pump with a power input, a power source and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the power source and to the power input of the pump. The CVT transmits power from the power source to the pump. The CVT comprises a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Schaaf, Michael P. Bujold, Joseph D. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 10006526
    Abstract: A system has a pump with a power input, a power source and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the power source and to the power input of the pump. The CVT transmits power from the power source to the pump. The CVT comprises a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Schaaf, Michael P. Bujold, Joseph D. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 9995375
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a radially inner race, having a first radially inner race structure and a second radially inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first radially inner race structure or the second radially inner race structure is axially movable. The transmission further includes a radially outer race, having a first radially outer race structure and a second radially outer race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first radially outer race structure or the second radially outer race structure is axially movable, planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner races and the radially outer races, and an outer race assembly that includes a hydraulic cavity housing, a hydraulic cavity sealed between the hydraulic cavity housing and the first radially outer race structure to control axial movement of the first radially outer race structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Publication number: 20170335930
    Abstract: An outer race assembly for a continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic cavity housing, a first radially outer race structure spaced along an axis from a second radially outer race structure to form a radially outer race, and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially outer race. The first radially outer race structure includes nesting engagement with the hydraulic cavity housing, and a hydraulic cavity sealed between the hydraulic cavity housing and the first radially outer race structure to control axial movement of the first radially outer race structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Publication number: 20170268668
    Abstract: A radially inner race and a radially outer race for a continuously variable transmission includes a first inner race structure and a second inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first inner race structure or the second inner race structure is axially movable. A sun shaft is coupled to the radially inner race and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner race, and a torsion damping mechanism is coupled to the first inner race structure to apply torque between the first inner race structure and the sun shaft to reduce a transition amplitude during a torque impulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Patent number: 9765863
    Abstract: An outer race assembly for a continuously variable transmission includes a hydraulic cavity housing, a first radially outer race structure spaced along an axis from a second radially outer race structure to form a radially outer race, and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially outer race. The first radially outer race structure includes nesting engagement with the hydraulic cavity housing, and a hydraulic cavity sealed between the hydraulic cavity housing and the first radially outer race structure to control axial movement of the first radially outer race structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Patent number: 9702459
    Abstract: A radially inner race for a continuously variable transmission includes a first inner race structure and a second inner race structure spaced along an axis wherein at least one of the first inner race structure or the second inner race structure is axially movable. A sun shaft is coupled to the radially inner race and planetary members in rolling contact with the radially inner race, and a torsion damping mechanism is coupled to the first inner race structure to apply torque between the first inner race structure and the sun shaft to reduce a transition amplitude during a torque impulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Kliewer, Mark M. Koeroghlian
  • Patent number: 9631563
    Abstract: A torsional pulse dampener including a pulley rotationally coupled to a piston that is axially displaceable and adapted to give torsional compliance from an engine for at least one-half revolution of an angular differential displacement between the pulley and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Publication number: 20160369875
    Abstract: A system has a pump with a power input, a power source and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the power source and to the power input of the pump. The CVT transmits power from the power source to the pump. The CVT comprises a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Schaaf, Michael P. Bujold, Joseph D. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 9488095
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, LTD.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Patent number: 9464701
    Abstract: A system has a pump with a power input, a power source and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the power source and to the power input of the pump. The CVT transmits power from the power source to the pump. The CVT comprises a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart A. Schaaf, Michael P. Bujold, Joseph D. Kliewer
  • Patent number: 9121357
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Publication number: 20140182545
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Publication number: 20140182564
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Patent number: 8690727
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Orbital Traction, Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Publication number: 20130123065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline system are disclosed and include a step-variable transmission. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is coupled between an input source and the step-variable transmission. The CVT receives a first torque from the input source and outputs a second torque. The CVT has a plurality of planetary members in rolling contact with an inner race and an outer race. A radial distance between the planetary members and a drive-transmitting member corresponds to a transmission ratio of the CVT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ORBITAL TRACTION, LTD.
    Inventor: Michael P. Bujold