In-series two chain continuously variable transmission

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission has an input pulley assembly connected to a first transfer pulley assembly with a first chain and a second transfer pulley assembly connected to an output pulley assembly with a second chain. The first transfer pulley assembly and the second transfer pulley assembly shaft a common shuttle disk that moves axially on a countershaft that carries the first and second transfer pulleys. The input pulley assembly and the output pulley assembly are generally axially aligned and a bearing carrier is positioned between the pulleys. A high pressure fluid supply system reduces or eliminates axial loading on the shafts of the transmission.

1 . A continuously variable transmission comprising:
 a housing that defines a belt chamber, said housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion and said second portion being substantially identical;   an input pulley assembly and an output pulley assembly positioned within said belt chamber, a first transfer pulley assembly and a second transfer pulley assembly mounted to a countershaft, a first chain extending between said input pulley assembly and said first transfer pulley assembly, a second chain extending between said second transfer pulley assembly and said output pulley assembly,   said input pulley assembly comprising a first end and a second end, said first end being supported by said housing and said second end being supported by a bearing holder, said bearing holder being captured between said first portion and said second portion of said housing;   said output pulley assembly comprising a first end and a second end, said first end being support by said housing and said second end being supported by said bearing holder;   said countershaft comprising a first end and a second end, said first end being supported by said housing and said second end being supported by said housing;   said input pulley assembly comprising a shaft portion and a fixed disk portion, said shaft portion and said disk portion being integrally formed, said input pulley assembly also comprising a bulkhead that is axially fixed along said shaft portion and a moveable disk that is positioned between said bulkhead and said fixed disk portion, said bulkhead being secured to said shaft portion for rotation with said shaft portion and said moveable disk portion being coupled to said bulkhead for rotation while remaining axially movable along said shaft portion relative to said bulkhead;   said output pulley assembly comprising a shaft portion and a fixed disk portion, said shaft portion and said disk portion being integrally formed, said output pulley assembly also comprising a bulkhead that is axially fixed along said shaft portion and a moveable disk that is positioned between said bulkhead and said fixed disk portion, said bulkhead being secured to said shaft portion for rotation with said shaft portion and said moveable disk portion being coupled to said bulkhead for rotation while remaining axially movable along said shaft portion relative to said bulkhead;   said first transfer pulley assembly comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion, said fixed disk portion being axially and rotationally secured to said countershaft;   said second transfer pulley assembly comprising a fixed disk portion and a moveable disk portion, said fixed disk portion being axially and rotationally secured to said countershaft;   said moveable disk portion of said first transfer pulley assembly and said moveable disk portion of said second transfer pulley assembly being defined in a single shuttle disk member, said shuttle disk member being positioned along said countershaft between said fixed disk portion of said first transfer pulley assembly and said fixed disk portion of said second transfer pulley assembly, said shuttle disk member being adapted for axial translation along said countershaft, said shuttle disk member comprising a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion that are separated by a recessed portion, and said first and second bearing portion abutting said countershaft.   
   
   
       2 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein said fixed disk portion of said first transfer pulley assembly comprising a journal portion and said journal portion forms an inner race of a bearing. 
   
   
       3 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein said second end of said input pulley assembly comprising a journal portion and said journal portion forms an inner race of a bearing that is mounted in said bearing holder. 
   
   
       4 . The transmission of  claim 3 , wherein said first end of said input pulley assembly comprises an internally splined bore. 
   
   
       5 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein said bulkhead of said input pulley is positioned within a portion of said moveable disk. 
   
   
       6 . The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein said portion of said moveable disk is supported by said bulkhead. 
   
   
       7 . A continuously variable transmission comprising:
 an outer housing, said outer housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;   an input shaft comprising an input pulley assembly, an output shaft comprising an output pulley assembly and a countershaft comprising a shuttle disk member, said input shaft being connected for rotation with said countershaft by an input flexible transmitter and said output shaft being connected for rotation with said countershaft by an output flexible transmitter;   said input shaft having a first end supported by a bearing holder, said bearing holder also supporting a first end of said output shaft, said bearing holder being positioned between said first end of said output shaft and said first end of said input shaft;   said input shaft comprising an axial bore extending from said first end of said input shaft and said output shaft also comprising an axial bore extending from said second end of said output shaft; and   said bearing holder defining a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage, said first fluid passage communicating with said axial bore of said input shaft and said second passage communicating with said axial bore of said output shaft.   
   
   
       8 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said bearing holder supports a first tube, said first tube being received within said axial bore of said input shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said bearing holder supports a first tube, said first tube being received within said axial bore of said output shaft. 
   
   
       10 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said bearing holder supports a first tube and a second tube, said first tube being received within said axial bore of said input shaft and said second tube being received within said axial bore of said output shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said shuttle disk has a first surface in registry with said input flexible transmitter and a second surface in registry with said output flexible transmitter and wherein movement of said shuttle disk is not caused by supply or removal of fluid from an internal chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said input shaft comprises a second end and said second end of said input shaft comprises an inwardly extending splined bore. 
   
   
       13 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said output shaft comprises a second end and said second end of said output shaft comprises an inwardly extending splined bore. 
   
   
       14 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein said input shaft comprises a second end, said second end of said input shaft comprising an inwardly extending splined bore, said output shaft also comprising a second end and said second end of said output shaft comprising an inwardly extending splined bore.