Abstract: A dual-cavity toroidal variator is disclosed herein. The torques from the first and second cavities are balanced by controlling each roller with mechanical devices rather than individually controlling each roller with a hydraulic actuator. The mechanical devices may be balancing mechanisms having a pivotable linking lever (66) by which the roller carrier (40) of the first cavity and the roller carrier (41) of the second cavity are linked.

Abstract: A supercharging arrangement for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The supercharging arrangement comprises a supercharger having a rotational drive input, and a transmission having a rotational drive input to receive drive from an internal combustion engine, and a rotational drive output connected to the input of the supercharger. The transmission includes a variator operatively connected between the input and the output of the transmission, which variator has an output that is driven at an operating ratio from an input. There is a control system that operates to cause an engine to deliver an amount of torque that is indicated by the state of an input to the control system. The control system is further operative to set the operating ratio of the variator.

Abstract: In a toroidal variator a plurality of rolling elements (20, 22) are in driving engagement with an input and output race (10, 14) at respective contact regions. Each rolling element (20, 22) is mounted on a carriage assembly (26) for rotation about a rolling axis, and is being free to pivot about a tilt axis, the tilt axis passing through the rolling element (20, 22) perpendicular to the rolling axis, and intersecting the rolling axis at a roller center, whereby a change in the tilt axis causes a change in the variator ratio being the ratio of rotational speeds of the races. The tilt axis is arranged at an angle known as castor angle (see FIG. 4) to a plane (P) perpendicular to the variator axis (V). Each carriage assembly (26) can cause a movement of the rolling element (20, 22) with a component of rotation about a pitch axis (A, B). The pitch axis is defined as passing through the roller center and through the contact regions.

Abstract: A supercharging arrangement for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The supercharging arrangement comprises a supercharger having a rotational drive input, and a transmission having a rotational drive input to receive drive from an internal combustion engine, and a rotational drive output connected to the input of the supercharger. The transmission includes a variator operatively connected between the input and the output of the transmission, which variator has an output that is driven at an operating ratio from an input. There is a control system that operates to cause an engine to deliver an amount of torque that is indicated by the state of an input to the control system. The control system is further operative to set the operating ratio of the variator.

Abstract: A variator (2) having a pair of semi-toroidally recessed races (11, 12) mounted to a housing (6) for rotation about a common variator axis. A roller (14) is mounted between the races to transfer drive between them at a variable drive ratio. A sun gear (25) is mounted between the races, as is a ring (gear 26). The ring gear is radially outboard of the sun gear. Mounted between the sun and ring and meshing with both is a carrier gear (33) upon which the roller is mounted in a manner which enables it to both spin about its own axis, when turned by the races, and also to tilt relative to the races to vary the drive ratio. A control pinion (27) is also arranged between the sun and ring gears meshing with both. The control pinion is able to rotate about its own axis freely, but the pinion axis is fixed with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A toroidal variator having an input surface and an output surface coaxially mounted for rotation on a shaft defining a variator axis and two rollers in driving engagement with the input and output surfaces, a take-off drive operatively engaged with the output surface and disposed radially of the variator axis whereby a radial contact force perpendicular to and intersecting the variator axis is generated and wherein the rollers are located such that the points of contact of the rollers with the input and output surfaces at one particular ratio within the operating range of the variator lie generally in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the radial contact force. This plane lies on or close to the neutral axis of bending of the variator structure whereby both normal contact loads between the discs and the two rollers will be generally the same.

Abstract: The invention is about a dual-cavity toroidal variator. The torques from the first and second cavities are balanced by controlling each roller with mechanical means rather than individually controlling each roller with a hydraulic actuator. The mechanical means may be a balancing mechanims having a pivotable linking lever (66) by which the roller carrier (40) of the first cavity and the roller carrier (41) of the second cavity are linked.

Abstract: In a toroidal variator a plurality of rolling elements (20, 22) are in driving engagement with an input and output race (10, 14) at respective contact regions. Each rolling element (20, 22) is mounted on a carriage assembly (26) for rotation about a rolling axis, and is being free to pivot about a tilt axis, the tilt axis passing through the rolling element (20, 22) perpendicular to the rolling axis, and intersecting the rolling axis at a roller centre, whereby a change in the tilt axis causes a change in the variator ratio being the ratio of rotational speeds of the races. The tilt axis is arranged at an angle known as castor angle (see FIG. 4) to a plane (P) perpendicular to the variator axis (V). Each carriage assembly (26) can cause a movement of the rolling element (20, 22) with a component of rotation about a pitch axis (A, B). The pitch axis is defined as passing through the roller centre and through the contact regions.

Abstract: In a toroidal variator a plurality of rolling elements (20,22) are in driving engagement with an input and output race (10, 14) at respective contact regions. Each rolling element (20, 22) is mounted on a carriage assembly (26) for rotation about a rolling axis, and is being free to pivot about a tilt axis, the tilt axis passing through the rolling element (20, 22) perpendicular to the rolling axis, and intersecting the rolling axis at a roller centre, whereby a change in the tilt axis causes a change in the variator ratio being the ratio of rotational speeds of the races. The tilt axis is arranged at an angle known as castor angle (see FIG. 4) to a plane (P) perpendicular to the variator axis (V). Each carriage assembly (26) can cause a movement of the rolling element (20, 22) with a component of rotation about a pitch axis (A, B). The pitch axis is defined as passing through the roller centre and through the contact regions.

Abstract: A variator (2) having a pair of semi-toroidally recessed races (11, 12) mounted to a housing (6) for rotation about a common variator axis. A roller (14) is mounted between the races to transfer drive between them at a variable drive ratio. A sun gear (25) is mounted between the races, as is a ring (gear 26). The ring gear is radially outboard of the sun gear. Mounted between the sun and ring and meshing with both is a carrier gear (33) upon which the roller is mounted in a manner which enables it to both spin about its own axis, when turned by the races, and also to tilt relative to the races to vary the drive ratio. A control pinion (27) is also arranged between the sun and ring gears meshing with both. The control pinion is able to rotate about its own axis freely, but the pinion axis is fixed with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A variator (10) has two races (12, 12) mounted for rotation about a common axis. Opposed, shaped faces (14, 18) of the races define an annular space containing at least one roller (38, 40) which runs upon the races to transfer drive between them. The roller is mounted on a carrier (42, 44) in such a way that its inclination to the common axis is able to change, to enable changes in variator ratio. The rollers and their carriers are controlled through a mechanism comprising a sun (46, 48) and a ring (50, 52) with which the carrier engages. Relative rotation of the sun and ring causes a tipping motion of the carrier (42, 44), so that the rollers steer themselves to a new inclination. To control the sun and ring, there is provided a planet (100) which engages them both. The rotational position of the carrier is controlled independently of its engagement with the sun and the ring.

Abstract: A variator (10) is disclosed which has two races (12, 12) mounted for rotation about a common axis. Opposed, shaped faces (14, 18) of the races define an annular space containing at least one roller (38, 40) which runs upon the races to transfer drive between them. The roller is mounted on a carrier (42, 44) in such a way that its inclination to the common axis is able to change, to enable changes in variator ratio. The rollers and their carriers are controlled through a mechanism comprising a sun (46, 48) and a ring (50, 52) with which the carrier engages. Relative rotation of the sun and ring causes a tipping motion of the carrier (42, 44), so that the rollers steer themselves to a new inclination. To control the sun and ring, there is provided a planet (100) which engages them both. The rotational position of the carrier is controlled independently of its engagement with the sun and the ring.

Abstract: A transmission of the toroidal race rolling traction type, including ratio varying components (“variators”) for such transmissions. A set of rollers transmitting traction between an input disc and an output disc is connected to a hydraulic mechanism by which it is positioned, the roller position determining the transmitted ratio.

Abstract: A continuously variable ratio transmission unit is disclosed which comprises a housing (116) and input (102, 106) and output (100) discs paired to define first and second toroidal cavities. The discs (100, 102, 106) are mounted to the housing for rotation about a common axis. First (110) and second (112) rollers—or more typically first and second sets of rollers—are respectively arranged in the first and second cavities and serve to transmit drive between the input and output discs. First (130) and second (148, 150, 152) actuators act on the respective rollers. The first actuator is coupled to a first carrier part (126) which can be mated with the housing introducing it to the housing along a direction generally parallel to the variator axis. The second actuator is coupled to a second carrier part (146) which can be mated with the housing by introducing the second carrier part to the housing along a direction non-parallel to the variator axis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a continuously variable ratio transmission unit having first and second discs mounted for rotation about a main axis, a toroidal cavity being defined between the discs by facing surfaces thereof and containing a plurality of rollers which serve to transmit drive from one disc to the other, each roller being coupled to a respective carriage through a respective bearing arrangement and each carriage being coupled at a first extremity to a first linear actuator and at a second extremity to a second linear actuator whereby the carriage is movable along a direction transverse to the main axis, the first and second linear actuators working in opposition to exert an adjustable net force on the carriage, the orientation of the carriage being constrained and the bearing arrangement being such as to enable the roller to rotate about a roller axis to thereby transmit drive from one of the discs to the other and also being such as to enable the roller axis to precess relative to the carriage to vary th

Abstract: A compound transmission assembly is provided including a splitter gear and headset/fourth gear, both mounted on the input shaft. The splitter gear is provided with a minimal diametral float with respect to the input shaft in order to minimize splitter gear tipping while allowing substantially balanced torque splitting between opposing countershafts. The headset/fourth gear is mounted to the input shaft via a pair of oppositely tapered roller bearing sets disposed about the input shaft in order to prevent headset/fourth gear tipping. In this manner, gear hopout is prevented during PTO operation, and substantially balanced torque splitting is accomplished.

Abstract: A compound transmission design for reducing gear hopout, particularly during PTO operation. In this design, a spindle is rigidly secured to an input shaft, and a headset/fourth gear is rotatably mounted on a spindle by means of a full compliment needle bearing. A splitter gear is rotatably mounted on the input shaft and includes a sufficient diametral float with respect to the input shaft to minimize tipping of the gear while maintaining significant torque balance between countershafts. This configuration maintains concentricity in parallelism of the headset/fourth gear and splitter gear with respect to the synchronizer clutch in order to prevent gear hopout.