Abstract: A transmission includes two planetary units (U1, U2) and two variators (V1, V2), all connected together such that power can be transferred between an input (I) and an output (O) in a compound-split mode or an output-split mode. In the compound-split mode the two planetary units are joined together at two connections, creating two compound member branches and two single member branches. Except when the transmission operates at its nodes, power transfers through a mechanical path and also through a variator path located in part between the two variators, one of which functions as a motor and the other as the source of power for the motor. At the nodes all power transfers through the mechanical path and the transmission has its greatest efficiency. In the output-split mode, which exists at an output speed below that identified with the first node, one of the compound member branches is interrupted so that the two planetary units are only coupled at one of the compound member branches.

Abstract: A method for power management in an electro-mechanical power-split infinitely variable transmission (eVT) designed to operated within a designated speed ratio range for vehicular applications. The eVT is comprised of an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of a drive engine to receive power, a drive shaft, two electric machines, and a pair of planetary trains each having a sun member, a ring member, a set of planetary members, and a planet carrier. The eVT further contains one or more torque transfer devices to connect or disconnect members of the planetary trains for transferring torque. The drive shaft is coupled with a final drive of a vehicle for delivering or recapturing power to or from the vehicle drive wheels. The two electric machines are interconnected electronically via a power control unit and are coupled respectively with members of the planetary train.

Abstract: A hub assembly, which accommodates rotation about an axis with a change in angular velocity, includes a carrier that is attached to a supporting structure, a shaft having a pair of sun rollers located in the carrier, a hub having a pair of rings, each surrounding a different sun roller, and planet rollers arranged in two rows between the sun rollers and the rings. The sun rollers have tapered raceways, as do the rings, and the planet rollers have tapered side faces along which they contact the raceways. The carrier has axles about which the planet rollers rotate, with each axle supporting a roller of each row. The planet rollers bear against each other at beveled end faces such the rollers on each axle back each other. Each roller contains an antifriction bearing which enable it to revolve on its axle and transfer radially and/or axially directed loads to the carrier.

Abstract: A two speed transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, the two speed transmission being capable of changing the rotating speed of the output shaft from a first speed ratio to a second speed ratio, the shift between the first rotating speed ratio and the second rotating speed ratio being smoothly accomplished by the present invention's combination of two sets of planetary gear clusters and two electric motors, the electric motors being used to smooth the mechanical shift between the first speed ratio and the second speed ratio.

Abstract: A traction drive has inner and outer rings and drive and idler rollers organized in two rows between the rings, with the drive rollers being in an inner row and the idler rollers being in an outer row. The drive rollers contact the inner ring and the idler rollers contact the outer ring. At least one idler roller exists for every drive roller, with the idler roller and its drive roller being in contact between the two rings. Moreover, each idler roller is offset slightly circumferentially with respect to its drive roller such that the idler roller occupies a convergent space between its drive roller and the outer ring. The drive rollers rotate within an inner carrier, while the idler rollers rotate within an outer carrier and one of the carriers can rotate slightly relative to the other carrier. Each drive roller may be coupled with an electric motor.

Abstract: An integrated electric motor and traction drive is disclosed. The device comprises an electric motor and a traction drive. The electric motor provides power at a high angular velocity to a sun roller. The sun roller transfers the power to the traction drive which reduces the power to a lower angular velocity and delivers it via an output shaft.

Abstract: A locking clutch comprises a toothed member and a slide assembly which are connectable to drive and driven parts. The two members are movable between an engaged position in which the clutch transfers power and/or torque to the driven part and a disengaged position in which power and/or torque is not transferred. The toothed member comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of teeth spaced about and extending from the cylindrical surface. The slide assembly comprises a body having a circumferential surface with a plurality of channels formed in said surface. Slide members are received in the channels to be movable between an extended position in which they can engage the teeth of the toothed member and a retracted position in which they do not engage the teeth of the toothed member. A resilient member biases the slide members to their extended positions. The slide assembly can be formed so that the slide members move either axially or radially relative to the slide assembly body.

Abstract: An integrated speed reducer and gerotor pump is disclosed. The device comprises a motor, a speed reducer, and a gerotor pump. The motor provides torque at an elevated speed. The speed reducer is coupled with the motor and converts the torque at an elevated speed into torque at a reduced speed. The gerotor pump is coupled with the speed reducer and uses the torque at the reduced speed for pumping fluids.

Abstract: A wedge loading mechanism for an eccentric planetary traction drive in which a roller having a flexibly mounted shaft is positioned between two raceways forming a convergent wedge. Rotation of either of the two raceways wedges the roller within the convergent wedge squeezing the roller between the two raceways thereby transmitting rotational motion and torque between the two raceways. The flexibly mounted shaft generates differences between an effective supporting stiffness of the roller and an contact effective stiffness at the points where the roller contacts the two raceways. The difference in the effective stiffness allow the roller to operate efficiently at smaller convergent wedge angles.

Abstract: A power split hybrid wheel drive system of the present invention comprises a planetary gear train (16) coupled to the output shaft of a driving engine (12). A primary motor or generator (18) is coupled to an output shaft of the planetary gear train (16) for receiving power therefrom, and a secondary motor or generator (30, 32) is associated with each driven vehicle wheel (14) to provide an electrical power pathway. A mechanical differential gear train (20) is coupled between the output shaft of the planetary gear train (16) and each driven vehicle wheel; (14) to provide a mechanical power pathway, while a mechanical clutch (22) and brake system (24) is configured to regulate the mechanical power routed to the differential gear train (20). A control system (48) is included to regulate the flow of electrical power between the primary motor (18) and secondary motors or generators (30, 32).

Abstract: An eccentric planetary traction drive transmission which includes at least two planetary rollers, sun roller member, and a carrier member. One of the planetary rollers is flexible and is positioned between and in contact with an outer ring member and the sun roller member. Rotation of either the outer ring member or the sun roller member wedges the flexible planetary roller within a convergent wedge gap which squeezes the flexible planetary roller between the outer ring member and the sun roll member. Friction between the flexible planetary roller, the sun roller member, and the outer ring member transmits rotational motion and torque between the outer ring member and the sun roller member. The other at least one supporting planetary roller is a supporting roller which supports the sun roller member and the carrier member. A plurality of bearings supports the sun roller member within the outer ring member and the at least one supporting planetary roller.

Abstract: An eccentric planetary traction drive transmission in which a planetary roller is positioned between and in contact with an outer ring member and a sun roller member. Rotation of either the outer ring member or the sun roller member wedges the planetary roller within a convergent gap which squeezes the planetary roller between the outer ring member and the sun roll member. Friction between the planetary roller, the sun roller member, and the outer ring member transmits rotational motion and torque between the outer ring member and the sun roller member. An internal carrier with a plurality of bearings supports the sun roller member within the outer ring member.

Abstract: A traction drive transmission is organized about a center axis and includes a sun roller having first and second inner raceways. The raceways are tapered such that their large ends are presented toward each other. There is provided a first plurality of planet rollers arranged in a row between a first inner raceway and a first outer raceway. The first plurality of rollers have a first tapered side face that contacts the first inner raceway and a second tapered side face that contacts the first outer raceway. A second plurality of planet rollers is arranged in a row between the second inner raceway and the second outer raceway and has a first tapered side face that contacts the second inner raceway and a second tapered side face that contacts the second outer raceway.

Abstract: An eccentric planetary traction drive transmission in which a planetary roller is positioned between and in contact with an outer ring member and a sun roller member. Rotation of either the outer ring member or the sun roller member wedges the planetary roller within a convergent gap which squeezes the planetary roller between the outer ring member and the sun roll member. Friction between the planetary roller, the sun roller member, and the outer ring member transmits rotational motion and torque between the outer ring member and the sun roller member. An internal carrier with a plurality of bearings supports the sun roller member within the outer ring member.

Abstract: A transmission includes two planetary units (U1, U2) and two variators (V1, V2), all connected together such that power can be transferred between an input (I) and an output (O) in a compound-split mode or an output-split mode. In the compound-split mode the two planetary units are joined together at two connections, creating two compound member branches and two single member branches. Except when the transmission operates at its nodes, power transfers through a mechanical path and also through a variator path located in part between the two variators, one of which functions as a motor and the other as the source of power for the motor. At the nodes all power transfers through the mechanical path and the transmission has its greatest efficiency. In the output-split mode, which exists at an output speed below that identified with the first node, one of the compound member branches is interrupted so that the two planetary units are only coupled at one of the compound member branches.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission has two planetary units organized about a common axis, with each unit including a sun member, a ring member, planet elements located between the sun and ring members, and carrier members providing axes about which the planet elements rotate. The two units are connected mechanically and through two variators, each of which preferably takes the form of a motor-generator. The arrangement creates two paths for transferring power from an input shaft to an output shaft—one path being a planetary path and the other a variator path. When power transfers through the variator path, one variator functions as a generator and the other as a motor. Between the two variators is a control unit which controls the amount of power transferred through the variator path.

Abstract: A traction drive transmission is organized about a center axis and includes a sun roller having first and second inner raceways. The raceways are tapered such that their large ends are presented toward each other. There are also provided first and second outer raceways tapered such that their large ends are presented toward each other. The first outer raceway is located around the first inner raceway and the second outer raceway is located around the second inner raceway. Next, there is provided a first plurality of planet rollers arranged in a row between the first inner raceway and the first outer raceway. The first plurality of rollers have a first tapered side face that contacts the first inner raceway and a second tapered side face that contacts the first outer raceway.

Abstract: A locking clutch comprises a toothed member and a slide assembly which are connectable to drive and driven parts. The two members are movable between an engaged position in which the clutch transfers power and/or torque to the driven part and a disengaged position in which power and/or torque is not transferred. The toothed member comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of teeth spaced about and extending from the cylindrical surface. The slide assembly comprises a body having a circumferential surface with a plurality of channels formed in said surface. Slide members are received in the channels to be movable between an extended position in which they can engage the teeth of the toothed member and a retracted position in which they do not engage the teeth of the toothed member. A resilient member biases the slide members to their extended positions. The slide assembly can be formed so that the slide members move either axially or radially relative to the slide assembly body.

Abstract: A locking clutch of the present invention comprises a toothed member which is connectable to a drive part and a slide assembly which is connectable to a driven part. The toothed member comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of teeth spaced about and extending from said cylindrical surface. The slide assembly comprises a base and a wall extending from an end surface of the base. The wall is narrower than the base, and the base and wall define a shoulder where they intersect. A plurality of pockets are formed in the shoulder and extend axially into the base from the shoulder. A plurality of grooves are formed in the wall above the pockets, there being one groove for each pocket. A slide member (such as a roller) and a resilient member (such as a coiled spring) are received in each pocket. The slide member is slidable axially in the pocket, and the spring member urges said slide member toward the mouth of the pocket.

Abstract: A locking clutch comprises a toothed member and a slide assembly which are connectable to drive and driven parts. The two members are movable between an engaged position in which the clutch transfers power and/or torque to the driven part and a disengaged position in which power and/or torque is not transferred. The toothed member comprises a cylindrical surface and a plurality of teeth spaced about and extending from the cylindrical surface. The slide assembly comprises a body having a circumferential surface with a plurality of channels formed in said surface. Slide members are received in the channels to be movable between an extended position in which they can engage the teeth of the toothed member and a retracted position in which they do not engage the teeth of the toothed member. A resilient member biases the slide members to their extended positions. The slide assembly can be formed so that the slide members move either axially or radially relative to the slide assembly body.