Idler Supported By Roller Bearing Patents (Class 476/46)
  • Patent number: 10661773
    Abstract: A braking apparatus of a vehicle may include: a first master cylinder configured to create hydraulic pressure as a brake pedal is pressed; a second master cylinder configured to create braking pressure through a piston which is pressed by the hydraulic pressure created by the first master cylinder and a nut moved by rotation of a motor; and a control unit, configured to: calculate a required displacement position of the nut based on a pedal stroke of the brake pedal, and update the required displacement position based on a displacement position of the nut at a dead stroke end point where the pedal stroke moves away from a dead stroke section of the first master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9970521
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission includes an input differential and an output differential. The input differential and the output differential both include differentially associated forward path and reverse path gear members. The forward path gear members are meshed indirectly through an idler gear and the reverse path gear members mesh directly to cause counter-rotation of the output differential gear members. The input differential gear members are controlled by a variator so that the forward path gear members may be regulated to rotate faster than the reverse path gear members to cause forward rotation of the output shaft, or so that the forward path gear members may be regulated to rotate slower than the reverse path gear members to cause reverse rotation of the output shaft or so that the forward and reverse path gear members rotate at the same speed to make the output shaft stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Rodney J. Cook and successors in trust
    Inventor: Rodney Jay Cook
  • Patent number: 9080652
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toroidal continuously variable transmission capable of reducing loss which occurs at a bearing and achieving range-widening at low cost with easy disc machinability. In the toroidal continuously variable transmission, a bearing ring 100 of a ball bearing 6 is formed at a small end surface 3a of an inner disc 3. Further, at least a part of the bearing ring 100 is axially overlapped with a traction surface 12 which is a boundary surface between a power roller and the inner disc 3. Further, a position adjustment member 120 is inserted between support posts 8a, 8b and a bearing ring facing to the disc 3 (the other bearing ring of the ball bearing 6 opposed to the bearing ring 100 of the small end surface 3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Toyoda, Hiroki Nishii
  • Publication number: 20150133262
    Abstract: A roller position control mechanism including a steering element, positioned inside the bearing of each roller and provided with a skew shaft and a steering shaft defining an angle therebetween. A spider element fixes the steering element to a longitudinal shaft of the CVT and a control ring element interconnects the steering elements of the various rollers. Movement of the control ring element with respect to the spider element translates to a tilting movement of the rollers, thanks to the angle between the skew and steering shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Samuel Beaudoin, Kenneth Huston
  • Patent number: 8876654
    Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission of the present invention comprises: input side disks (1a, 1b) and output side disks (6) being supported concentric with each other such that the disks can rotate freely; a trunnion (9) that comprises end sections (36) on both ends on which tilt shafts (13) that are concentric with each other are provided, and a support beam section (15) that extends between both end sections (36), the trunnion (9) being capable of pivotally displacing around the tilt shafts (13); a thrust rolling bearing (17); and a power roller (8) that is supported to the inside surface of the trunnion (9) by way of the thrust rolling bearing (17) such that it rotates freely; wherein the support beam section (15) comprises an inside surface having a cylindrical convex surface (14); the thrust rolling bearing (17) comprises an outer race (18a) having an outside surface with a concave section (19a) that fits with the cylindrical convex surface (14) of the support beam section (15), and a plurality
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Nishii, Toshihiko Sato, Eiji Inoue, Toshiro Toyoda, Hiroyasu Yoshioka, Yuji Shimomura, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8858389
    Abstract: A variator assembly for a transmission includes an input shaft, an input disc, an output disc, a roller, a trunnion, a piston, and a connection member. The input shaft defines an axis of rotation and the input disc is rotationally coupled to the input shaft and coaxial with the axis of rotation. The roller is disposed between the input disc and the output disc to provide a speed ratio between the input disc and the output disc. The trunnion is connected to the roller and includes a connecting feature. The piston defines a central bore. The connection member has a head portion, a shaft portion, and a connecting portion, where the connecting portion is connected to the connecting feature of the trunnion, the head portion abuts the piston, and the shaft portion is disposed in the central bore of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Philip C. Lundberg, Shushan Bai, Edwin T. Grochowski
  • Patent number: 8764605
    Abstract: Variators that include a damped roller control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Fairhurst, Robert A. Oliver
  • Patent number: 8096918
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Brian Dutson
  • Patent number: 8083637
    Abstract: The support beam 34 having the cylindrical convex surface 33 is provided at the intermediate portion of the trunnion 9b. The recess 38 of the partial cylindrical surface formed on the outside of the outer ring 37 on the thrust ball bearing 36 supporting the power rollers 8b and the cylindrical convex surface 33 of the support beam are engaged. The outer ring and the power rollers 8b are supported swingably in the axial direction of the input and output discs in respect to the trunnions 9b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Nishii, Eiji Inoue, Jörg Möckel
  • Publication number: 20110300989
    Abstract: A variator transmission comprises an input shaft (18), an input disc (10) mounted on the input shaft for rotation therewith and an output disc (12) facing the input disc and arranged to rotate coaxially therewith, the input and output discs defining between them a toroidal cavity. Two rollers (14, 16) are located in the toroidal cavity and first and second roller carriage means are provided upon which the first and second rollers respectively are rotatably mounted and end load means (34, 36) urge the rollers into contact with the input and output discs to transmit drive. The two roller carriage means are mounted on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of a lever (50) and the pivotal axis of the lever (50) is movable in both the radial and non-radial directions with respect to the rotational axis of the input and output discs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Toro-Trak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Christopher J. Greenwood, Andrew D. De Freitas, Robert A. Oliver
  • Patent number: 7951041
    Abstract: A continuously variable ratio device (“variator”) is disclosed in which a pair of rotary races (252, 254) is mounted for rotation about a common variator axis (218). Drive is transferred from one race to the other through at least one roller (200) running upon them. The drive ratio is variable by virtue of precession of the roller about a precession axis (228). Precession results in a change in angle between the roller axis and the variator axis and a corresponding change in drive ratio. In accordance with the invention, the roller (200) is coupled to a carrier (214) in a manner which permits it to precess relative to the carrier (214). The carrier itself is rotatable about a carrier axis (226) which is non-parallel to the precession axis. Rotation of the carrier (214) about the carrier axis serves to change the orientation of the precession axis (228) and is accompanied by a change in variator drive ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Brian Joseph Dutson
  • Patent number: 7637841
    Abstract: A continuously variable ratio transmission unit having 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Brian Joseph Dutson
  • Patent number: 7632208
    Abstract: 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 the transmission rati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Christopher John Greenwood, Andrew Damian Defrietas, Brian Joseph Dutson, Ian David Cornwell
  • Publication number: 20090286646
    Abstract: In a toroidal continuously variable transmission unit, a pair of guide surface portions 120, 120 are provided on a trunnion 15 so as to face oppositely each other and to extend in a direction which intersects a rotational center axis of a power roller 11 at right angles and intersects pivot shafts 14 at right angles. When a tangential force along a direction of the pivot shafts 14 is applied to the power roller 11, an outer circumferential surface 110 of an outer ring 28 can be brought into abutment with these guide surface portions 120, 120. By this, the toroidal continuously variable transmission unit with good machinability can be obtained in which the power roller together with the outer ring can be rolling guided smoothly relative to the trunnion by an inexpensive and simple construction while avoiding the offsetting of a shaft portion which supports the power roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7563192
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has a pair of input and output disks each including a first traction surface, power rollers each including a second traction surface and respectively interposed between the first traction surfaces of the input and output disks, an oil passage for guiding lubricating oil to the traction surfaces of the power rollers, input disk and output disk, and a mesh filter disposed on the exit side of the associated oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Imanishi, Kazuya Kimura, Sachiko Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7524262
    Abstract: In a toroidal transmission, wherein power transmission rollers are supported rotatably on pivotable support brackets, the pivot movement of adjacent support brackets is coupled via driver elements which are mounted to the support brackets for pivoting therewith and are arranged axially adjacent to one another and formed by a single component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Bassler, Steffen Henzler, Dinh Cong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7476175
    Abstract: In a variator for an infinitely variable toroidal drive including a support trunnion rotatably supporting motion transmitting traction rollers and means for the lubrication and cooling of the components of the variator, in particular of the bearings, throttles are provided in the lubricant lines directly adjacent to the bearings whereby the pressure level for lubricant is raised for an improved control of the flow of the lubricant to the different lubricating points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Elser, Steffen Henzler
  • Patent number: 7384368
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission includes an input shaft, an input disk and an output disk, plural power rollers, a power roller bearing, an oil passage, and a mesh filter. The input and output disks are supported mutually concentrically with the input shaft and mutually independently rotatably. The plural power rollers are sandwiched between the input disk and the output disks. The power roller bearing rotatably supports the power rollers. The oil passage for leading lubricating oil to the power roller bearing. The mesh filter is provided in the oil passage. Accordingly, the toroidal-type continuously variable transmission can prevent an occurrence of biting-in of foreign substances at a power roller bearing, to thereby increase the life of the power roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Hiroshi Kato, Eiji Inoue, Hiroki Nishii
  • Patent number: 7217220
    Abstract: A toric-drive transmission comprising a drive disk for receiving a power input. A driven disk transmits a power output. A roller device has a roller displaceably mounted between the drive disk and the driven disk. The roller has three rotational degrees of freedom. A first degree of freedom transmits motion from the drive disk to the driven disk to convert the power input to the power output. A second degree of freedom varies a ratio of the power output to the power input as a function of an orientation of the roller along the second degree of freedom. A third degree of freedom initiates a rotation of the roller about the second degree of freedom. A controller system is operatively connected to the roller device for changing the orientation of the roller in the second degree of freedom by actuating a displacement of the roller in the third degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: S.O.E. Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Fernand Careau, Hugues Maltais
  • Patent number: 7214159
    Abstract: A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Miller, David J. Allen, Robert A. Smithson, Jeffrey A. Birchak
  • Patent number: 7211024
    Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission in which a rolling member is arranged between a pair of rotary members with contacting its outer circumferential face with a rolling face of those rotary members being opposed to each other through an oil film, and in which a holding member for holding the rolling member in a rotatable condition is provided includes a lubricating oil feeding hole for spraying lubricating oil to a plurality of portions at the center side of the rotation of at least one of the end faces of the rolling member in an axial direction, which is arranged on the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuji Taketsuna, Shigenori Tamaki
  • Patent number: 7201701
    Abstract: A power roller supporting structure for a toroidal continuously variable transmission, including a moveable disk, a stationary disk, the disks being rotatable about a first axis, power rollers disposed between the moveable and stationary disks and rotatable about a second axis and pivotally moveable about a third axis extending perpendicular to the second axis upon rotation of the moveable and stationary disks, the power rollers having a low speed ratio position where a reduced speed ratio between rotational speeds of the disks is obtained and a high speed ratio position where an increased speed ratio therebetween is obtained, and an arrangement for allowing the power rollers to move closer to the first axis along the second axis when the power rollers are placed in the low speed ratio position than when the power rollers are placed in the high speed ratio position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibukawa
  • Patent number: 7104919
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has: first and second disks; a plurality of trunnions; a plurality of displacement shafts respectively supported on associated trunnions; a plurality of power rollers respectively interposed between the first and second disks; and, a plurality of thrust bearings respectively interposed between the power rollers and trunnions, each of the thrust bearings including an outer ring, an inner raceway formed in the outer end face of the power roller, a plurality of rolling elements, and a circular-ring-shaped retainer, wherein, in case where the density of a retainer material constituting the retainer is ?d, the elastic modulus of the retainer material is Ed, the density of rolling element materials is ?c and the elastic modulus of the rolling element materials is Ec, { ( ? d · E d ) / ( ? c · E c ) } 1 2 ? 0.6 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Hirotoshi Aramaki, Shinichi Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 7077780
    Abstract: A toroidal type continuously variable transmission comprises input and output discs coaxially and rotatably arranged about a common axis. The input and output discs have respective toroidal concave surfaces which face each other. Power rollers are arranged each having a rounded outer surface and being interposed between the toroidal concave surfaces of the input and output discs. A loading cam is provided that presses the input disc against the power rollers by a force that is proposal to an input torque. Trunnions are provided each supporting the corresponding power roller in such a manner that the power roller is inclinable relative to a center of curvature of the input and output discs. Power roller bearings are arranged to rotatably support the power rollers relative to the respective trunnions. The following inequality is established: Ro/(2×R22)?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7077781
    Abstract: A power roller unit for a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has: a trunnion including a support plate portion, a pair of bent wall portions, two pivot shafts, and a connecting member; a displacement shaft; a power roller; a thrust ball bearing including an outer ring, a ball, and a retainer; a thrust bearing, wherein the thrust bearing is held by a hold portion disposed in the support plate portion, and wherein, where the distance between the small end face of the power roller and the connecting member is expressed as a, the distance between the outer ring and the opposed surface of the hold portion opposed to the outer ring is expressed as b, and the thickness of the thrust bearing is expressed as c, the sum of a and b is set smaller than c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Eiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7004882
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission which includes: a casing; input and output disks respectively including inner surfaces, disposed concentrically with each other inside the casing, and supported so as to rotate independently of each other; a plurality of trunnions each including even-numbered pivot shafts existing at right angles to a central-axis direction of the disks and disposed concentrically with to in parallel to each other, and being swingable about the pivot shafts; a plurality of shift shafts respectively projected out from the trunnions; a plurality of power rollers held by and between respective inner surfaces of the disks so as to be rotatably supported on the shift shafts; and a support member fixed directly to the casing and supporting the pivot shafts so as to be shifted in an axial and an inclined rotation direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: NSK. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Imanishi, Masami Tanaka, Tomofumi Yamashita, Kouji Ishikawa, Nobuo Goto
  • Patent number: 7004883
    Abstract: A trunnion of a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has a support plate portion for supporting a displacement shaft and a pair of bent wall portions respectively bent toward the inner surface side of the support plate portion. The support plate portion and the pair of bent wall portions cooperates together in defining a pocket portion for storing a power roller therein. Pivot shafts are disposed concentrically with each other on the outer surfaces of the pair of bent wall portions. The pair of bent wall portions are connected together by a connecting member. The connecting member includes a pressure receive portion contactable with the inner surface of the pocket portion in a direction intersecting substantially at right angles to the thrust direction and receiving a pressing force acting on the pocket portion to crush the pocket portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Yutaka Sato, Masami Tanaka, Tomofumi Yamashita, Nobuo Goto
  • Patent number: 6991580
    Abstract: A toroidal variable-speed drive unit includes at least one axial offset transmission, at least one actuating member, pivotable supporting journals, and rollers arranged on the pivotable supporting journals which are coupled to one another by the at least one axial offset transmission and can be supported on the at least one actuating member, wherein the rollers are arranged between the actuating member and the at least one axial offset transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Elser, Steffen Henzler, Dinh Cuong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6979277
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, includes: a trunnion including: a support plate portion; and a pair of bent wall portions formed in longitudinal-direction two end portions of the support plate portion and bent on an inner surface side of the support plate portion, the pivot shafts being disposed concentrically with each other on outer surfaces of the bent wall portions; a trunnion shaft formed integrally with the pivot shaft; an oil pressure piston fitted with an outer peripheral surface of the trunnion shaft for moving the trunnions along the axial direction of the pivot shaft; and, a cut-away portion formed in the outer peripheral surface of the trunnion shaft for forming, between the cut-away portion and the oil pressure piston, an oil passage for a lubricating oil to be supplied to the bearing for a power roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Takashi Imanishi
  • Patent number: 6953414
    Abstract: A trunnion linkage structure of a dual-cavity toroidal CVT, including trunnions each having an axial end portion, an upper link coupled to the axial end portion through a connection hole, a stop and a snap ring mounted to the axial end portion of the trunnion, and a stop positioning portion arranged so as to limit displacement of the stop in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the trunnion. A method of assembling the structure, including inserting a jig into the transmission case, placing the snap ring and the stop on the jig, placing the upper link on the stop, inserting the axial end portion of the trunnion into the connection hole so as to position the stop in place on the axial end portion of the trunnion, and guiding the snap ring to the mount position on the axial end portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6945904
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has: an input shaft; an input disk and an output disk; a displacement shaft having a support shaft portion and a pivotal shaft portion; a trunnion having a support hole for supporting the support shaft portion; a first radial bearing supporting the support shaft portion within the support hole; a power roller having an insertion hole for receiving the pivot shaft portion; a second radial bearing supporting the pivot shaft portion within the insertion hole; and a thrust bearing including an outer ring and rolling elements, wherein a first bottom plate portion is provided at the support hole so as to close an opening of the support hole, a second bottom plate portion is provided at the insertion hole so as to close an opening of the insertion hole; and the displacement shaft and the outer ring are formed integrally with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Yutaka Sato
  • Patent number: 6932736
    Abstract: In a toroidal continuously variable transmission having a plurality of power rollers interposed between input and output disks under axial preload and using a tapered roller bearing as a power roller bearing, a radial load and a thrust load acting on an inner race are received or supported by way of the tapered roller bearing. An inner raceway surface formed on the inner race is located to be offset from a line of action common to a radial component of a contact pressure acting on a contact point between the inner race and the input disk and a radial component of a contact pressure acting on a contact point between the inner race and the output disk toward an outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6923743
    Abstract: In a toroidal CVT includes a power roller interposed between input and output disks under a preload, a trunnion supports the power roller to permit a tilting motion of the power roller about a trunnion axis perpendicular to a power-roller rotation axis and to permit a parallel translation of the power roller relative to the trunnion in the direction of the common rotation axis of the input and output disks. The power roller includes an inner race in contact with the input and output disks, an outer race supported by the trunnion, and a power-roller bearing permitting relative rotation of the inner race to the outer race. The outer race has a low rigidity structure that promotes a deformation of the outer race so that the outer-race deformation follows the inner-race deformation, which may occur due to the preload during operation of the toroidal CVT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6921350
    Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission includes an input disk, an output disk facing the input disk, a power roller gripped between the input disk and output disk, a pedestal which supports the power roller free to rotate about a power roller rotation axis, and a trunnion which gyrates about a trunnion gyration axis. The trunnion includes a first plane portion perpendicular to the power roller rotation axis, two second plane portions perpendicular to the first plane portion and facing each other across the power roller rotation axis and two inclined portions between the first plane portion and the second plane portions, respectively. A roller bearing unit, including a cage housing a roller, supports the pedestal on the trunnion so that the pedestal is free to slide in a direction that is perpendicular to both the trunnion gyration axis and power roller rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruhito Mori
  • Patent number: 6908410
    Abstract: In a toroidal type continuously variable transmission, a power roller bearing that serves as a thrust bearing includes an inner race composed of a part of a power roller, an outer race opposed to the inner race, and balls arranged for rolling motion between the outer and inner races. The power roller is in rolling contact with input and output disks and pressed thereby in a thrust direction. An end face of the inner race is formed having a first raceway groove having an arcuate cross section and in contact with the balls. An end face of the outer race is formed having a second raceway groove having an arcuate cross section and in contact with the balls. The second raceway groove is shallower than the first raceway groove, and the center of each of the balls is situated nearer to the inner race than a center position between the respective end faces of the outer and inner races is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6878091
    Abstract: The invention relates to an infinitely variable friction gear with several frictional wheels which are to transmit via the driving power. The frictional wheels are rotationally mounted in combined axial-radial-bearings (2), which comprises split bearings (3) which are inserted into the supports (4) for the friction wheels (1) and which are rotated at an pivoting axis angle (?) in relation to angle Y. The opposite-lying supports of each gear unit are connected to each other by an upper coupling rod (6) and a lower coupling coupling rod (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Berhard Sich, Axel Matheis
  • Patent number: 6875151
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has an input disk, an output disk, a pressing device for pressing said first disk toward said second disk, a plurality of trunnions having a pair of first support shafts for supporting a plurality of power rollers, a pair of support plates for supporting the first pivot shafts of each of the trunnions; and a pair of swing brackets each including a second pivot shaft parallel to the first pivot shaft of the trunnion, the swing brackets being respectively supported so as to be swingable about the second pivot shafts with respect to the support plates. The first pivot shafts of the trunnion are respectively supported so as to be swingable with respect to the support plates through the swing brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Imanishi, Hisashi Machida
  • Patent number: 6866609
    Abstract: A traction drive having multiple toroidal discs and power rollers located in toroidal cavities defined by the discs. Each roller is mounted in a trunnion and the trunnion is positioned in a gimbal frame wherein the axis of the trunnion is displaced through a caster angle about the roller axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James D. Ervin
  • Patent number: 6832971
    Abstract: A power roller for a toroidal continuously variable transmission includes: an inner wheel, an outer wheel a power roller bearing for bearing the inner wheel. The power roller bearing includes an inner wheel orbital face formed on the inner wheel, an outer wheel orbital face formed on the outer wheel, and a rolling element interposed between the inner wheel orbital face and the outer wheel orbital face. The rolling element is shaped into a frustum of a cone. A first contact is made between one of the following while a second contact is made between the other of the following: the rolling element and the inner wheel orbital face, and the rolling element and the outer wheel orbital face. The first contact is a point and the second contact is a line. Otherwise, the first contact is shorter in width than the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040235612
    Abstract: A continuously variable toroidal transmission comprising at least one input disc and at least one output disc has several friction wheels (10, 19′, 10″) between the inner surfaces of the input and output discs, on pivoting bodies (2, 2′, 2″) of a support element (1), retained by wheel carriers (9, 9′, 9″) and pivotally supported. The wheel carriers (9, 9′, 9″) of the friction wheels (10, 10′, 10″) are connected with the pivoting bodies (2, 2′, 2″) by one coupling element (19). The coupling element (19) has a ball guide (25) with a longitudinal hole (22) for movement in linear direction along the axis of the appertaining wheel carrier (9, 9′, 9″).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Stroph, Jurgen Wafzig
  • Patent number: 6814685
    Abstract: A rolling element for a continuously variable transmission, including input and output disks and a power roller interposed between the input and output disks, the power roller including an inner race, an outer race and a plurality of rolling members interposed between the inner and outer races, the input and output disks and the inner race having rolling contact surfaces coming into rolling contact with each other via lubricating oil, the inner and outer races having rolling contact surfaces coming into rolling contact with the rolling members via lubricating oil, and a nickel-based coat formed on at least one of the rolling contact surfaces, the nickel-based coat having a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 20 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Hirai, Mitsuhiro Okuhata, Nobuo Kino, Keizo Otani
  • Publication number: 20040204283
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission apparatus having input and output shafts, a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission unit (CVT unit), a gear-type differential unit with gears, and a control unit, the CVT unit has; input and output side disks, power rollers, input and output side rotation sensors, wherein the differential unit has; a first input portion and a second input portion, and wherein the control unit regulates the transmission ratio of the CVT unit so as to change relative displacement speeds of the gears of the differential unit to thereby convert the rotational state of the output shaft to forward and backward rotations with a stationary state being interposed therebetween, with the input shaft being kept rotating in one direction, and to calculate a rotational speed of the output shaft based on rotational speeds of the input and output side disks and a gear ratio of the differential unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040204284
    Abstract: A rotational speed of an input side disk is detected by an input side rotation sensor, and a rotational speed of an output side disk is detected by an output side rotation sensor, respectively. Based on detected values of the two sensors, a transmission ratio of a toroidal type continuously variable transmission is calculated. Further, a rotational speed of the output shaft is calculated from the transmission ratio and a gear ratio of a planetary gear type transmission. In a state in which the select lever selects no-running condition, the transmission ratio of the toroidal type continuously variable transmission is controlled such that the rotational speed of the output shaft becomes null or at an extremely low speed even when the running state is selected at the instance. Further, a position of a control valve apparatus under the state is stored to a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Inoue, Takashi Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20040132579
    Abstract: A roller bearing is provided which comprises a pair of bearing rings at least one of which has an annular rib, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the bearing rings. Each of the rollers has a roller end face in sliding contact with the rib. A residual austenite structure in at least one of the rib and the roller end face is 20 to 60 vol. %. A method of producing a roller bearing and a toroidal CVT using such a bearing are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriko Uchiyama, Yoshiteru Yasuda, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040116242
    Abstract: A roller bearing is provided which comprises a pair of rings at least one of which has a rib with a rib face, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the rings and each having a roller end face in sliding contact with the rib face, wherein at least one of the rib face and the roller end face has a surface hardness HV of 750 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriko Uchiyama, Takeshi Yamamoto, Yoshiteru Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20040116241
    Abstract: A power roller unit for a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has: a trunnion including a support plate portion, a pair of bent wall portions, two pivot shafts, and a connecting member; a displacement shaft; a power roller; a thrust ball bearing including an outer ring, a ball, and a retainer; a thrust bearing, wherein the thrust bearing is held by a hold portion disposed in the support plate portion, and wherein, where the distance between the small end face of the power roller and the connecting member is expressed as a, the distance between the outer ring and the opposed surface of the hold portion opposed to the outer ring is expressed as b, and the thickness of the thrust bearing is expressed as c, the sum of a and b is set smaller than c.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Eiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 6746365
    Abstract: The toroidal-type continuously variable transmission comprises an input shaft rotatably supported, an input side disk, an output side disk, a plurality of trunnions, a plurality of power rollers, and a plurality of thrust rolling bearings 32, in which the mutually opposed inner surfaces of the input side and output side disks are respectively formed as concave surfaces each having an arc-shaped section, the peripheral surfaces of the power rollers are formed as spherical-shaped convex surfaces, and the peripheral surfaces of the power rollers are contacted with the inner surfaces of the input side and output side disks. In the thus structured toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, each of the thrust rolling bearings 32 is made of high carbon chromium bearing steel and is also carbonitrided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonobu Yoshikawa, Yasuo Murakami
  • Patent number: 6746364
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission includes an oil supply passage formed in a trunnion, for lubricating bearing parts supporting power rollers. The oil supply passage is structured by a groove formed in the inner surface of the trunnion and a plate-shaped cover member for covering the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Imanishi
  • Publication number: 20040102285
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has: first and second disks; a plurality of trunnions; a plurality of displacement shafts respectively supported on associated trunnions; a plurality of power rollers respectively interposed between the first and second disks; and, a plurality of thrust bearings respectively interposed between the power rollers and trunnions, each of the thrust bearings including an outer ring, an inner raceway formed in the outer end face of the power roller, a plurality of rolling elements, and a circular-ring-shaped retainer, wherein, in case where the density of a retainer material constituting the retainer is &rgr;d, the elastic modulus of the retainer material is Ed, the density of rolling element materials is &rgr;c and the elastic modulus of the rolling element materials is Ec, 1 { ( ρ d · E d ) / ( ρ c · E c ) } 1 2 ≤ 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Hirotoshi Aramaki, Shinichi Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 6733415
    Abstract: In a power roller for a toroidal continuously variable transmission, temperature rise of a power transmission part can be prevented by suppressing the heat in a rolling contact part between a ball and an inner race groove. By setting a radius of curvature of an inner race groove less than a radius of curvature of an outer race groove, a Hertzian contact area between the inner race groove and the ball is set larger than a Hertzian contact area between the outer race groove and the ball. Further, the pitch diameter of the inner race groove is set to be less than the pitch diameter of the outer race groove. By doing so, the direction of the rotation axis of the ball can be set to a direction wherein the spin of the inner race is less than the spin of the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamamoto