JP2002106656A - Continuously variable transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuously variable transmission capable of avoiding increase of shaft diameter and deflection of shafts. SOLUTION: Driving transmission by a chain 42 is performed between the shaft A and the shaft B of the continuously variable transmission, retainers 102 and 103 for keeping a distance between the shaft A and the shaft B to a predetermined distance are disposed at positions where the shaft A and the shaft B are pulled by the chain 42 in mutually approaching direction, namely at positions where sprockets 100 and 101 are disposed, the retainers 102 and 103 absorb a tension of the chain 42 to avoid deflection of the shaft A and the shaft B caused by the tension of the chain 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a continuously variable transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a continuously variable transmission in which a chain or a belt is transmitted between a first shaft and a second shaft.
Examples of this type of continuously variable transmission include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05460. Tokiohei 8-
In the continuously variable transmission described in JP-A-505460, the shaft A
The transmission is performed by the chain 42 between the shaft and the shaft B (see FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 8-505460). Therefore, when a relatively large load is applied to the output shaft, a considerably large tension is generated in the chain.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The continuously variable transmission described in Japanese Patent Publication No.
No means is provided to prevent the shaft and the shaft B from being pulled toward each other by the tension of the chain. Therefore, when a relatively large load is applied to the output shaft and a considerably large tension is generated in the chain, the tension causes the shafts A and B to be pulled and bent in a direction approaching each other. Along with this, there is a possibility that, for example, chain teeth jump. On the other hand, if the diameters of the shafts A and B are increased in order to avoid bending, the entire continuously variable transmission becomes large.

[0004] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a continuously variable transmission capable of avoiding shaft deflection while avoiding an increase in shaft diameter.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a continuously variable transmission in which a chain or a belt is transmitted between a first shaft and a second shaft. A continuously variable transmission in which a retainer for maintaining a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft at a predetermined distance is arranged at a position where the second shaft and the second shaft are pulled toward each other by the tension of the chain or the belt. Machine is provided.

In the continuously variable transmission according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first shaft and the second shaft are located at positions where the first shaft and the second shaft are pulled toward each other by the tension of the chain or the belt. A retainer is provided for maintaining the distance at a predetermined distance. Therefore, even when a relatively large load is applied to the output shaft of the continuously variable transmission and a considerably large tension is generated in the chain, the tension is absorbed by the retainer. As a result, no force is applied to the first axis and the second axis in a direction in which both approach each other. That is, it is possible to prevent the first shaft and the second shaft from being bent without increasing the diameters of the first shaft and the second shaft.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing for supporting the first shaft and the second shaft, and a space between the first shaft and the second shaft defined by the housing is provided. In order to allow a manufacturing error between the distance and the center distance between the first shaft and the second shaft defined by the retainer, at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and its sprocket or pulley are connected to a spline joint. Claim 1 which is constituted by
Is provided.

In the continuously variable transmission according to the present invention, the distance between the first shaft and the second shaft defined by the housing that supports the first shaft and the second shaft and the retainer are used to define the distance. At least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and its sprocket or pulley are formed by spline joints in order to allow a manufacturing error in the inter-axis distance between the first shaft and the second shaft. That is, since the spline joint is provided, strictly speaking, the first shaft and the second shaft are not restricted by the retainer. Therefore, when the center distance defined by the housing and the center distance defined by the retainer have a manufacturing error, that is, the center distance defined by the housing is not equal to the center distance defined by the retainer. Even in this case, the first shaft and the second shaft are restrained only by the housing without being restrained by the retainer. therefore,
It is possible to avoid inconvenience associated with the first shaft and the second shaft being supported at three points by the housing and the retainer.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the gear ratio of the first shaft sprocket or pulley to the second shaft sprocket or pulley is substantially 1: 1. A ratio is provided.

In the continuously variable transmission according to the third aspect, the gear ratio of the sprocket or pulley of the first shaft to the sprocket or pulley of the second shaft is approximately 1: 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tension of the chain or the belt from being generated in a direction other than the direction connecting the first shaft and the second shaft with the setting of the ratio of the number of teeth to a value other than 1: 1. be able to.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention. It should be noted that the continuously variable transmission according to the present invention is not only a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that cannot make the speed ratio of the output shaft to the input shaft zero, but also the one that can make the speed ratio of the output shaft to the input shaft zero. It is also applicable to a step transmission (IVT). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an output shaft that can be drivingly connected to, for example, a tire of a vehicle; 2, an input shaft that can be drivingly connected to, for example, an output shaft of an internal combustion engine; 4, a toroidal race variator; e, an input planetary gear device; It is a recirculating planetary gear set. The ring gear 35 of the input planetary gear set e is connected to the input shaft 2, and the sun gear 36 is connected to the shaft A supporting the input disk 37 of the toroidal race variator 4. Reference numeral 38 denotes a roller whose direction can be changed as indicated by an arrow 39. Input planetary gear set e
Is connected to a shaft B via a gear train 34, and the shaft B is connected to a sprocket 101, a chain 42,
It is drivingly connected to an output disk 41 of the variator 4 via a sprocket 100. A half forming a part of the clutch 44 and a half forming a part of the clutch 45 are connected to the shaft A, and a half forming a part of the clutch 46 and a half forming a part of the clutch 47 are formed as follows. It is connected to the shaft B. The other half of the clutch 47 is connected to the output shaft 1. Two more clutches 48, 49
Is provided.

To connect to a low regime including geared neutral, clutches 44 and 46 are engaged,
All other clutches are released. In this case, when the clutch 44 is engaged, the shaft A drives the sun gear 50 of the recirculating planetary gear set E, and when the clutch 46 is engaged, the shaft B is driven through the planetary gear train 51 via the reduction gear train 51. The carrier 52 is driven. The power is recirculated in the recirculating planetary gear set E, and the output is transmitted to the shaft 1 via the ring gear 53 and the reduction gear train 54.

To switch from the low regime to the intermediate forward regime, the clutch 46 is released and the clutch 48
And the clutch 44 is kept engaged. As a result, the recirculating planetary gear set E is locked and rotates integrally without recirculating power, and the driving force is transmitted from the shaft A to the sun gear 50, the locked recirculating planetary gear set E,
The power is transmitted to the output shaft 1 via the reduction gear train 54. To switch from the low regime to the intermediate reverse regime, the clutch 49 is engaged, the clutch 44 is released, and the clutch 46 remains engaged. In this case, the driving force is transmitted from the shaft B to the output shaft 1 via the clutch 46, the reduction gear unit 51, the planetary carrier 52, the clutch 49, and the reduction gear train 55 which moves in the opposite direction to the gear train 54. In this regime, the sun gear 50 and the ring gear 53 of the recirculating planetary gear set E do not transmit power.

To switch from the intermediate forward regime to the high forward regime, clutches 44 and 48 are released and clutch 47 is engaged. In this case, the driving force is directly transmitted from the shaft B to the output shaft 1 via the clutch 47.
To switch from the intermediate reverse regime to the high speed reverse regime, the clutches 46, 49 are released and the clutch 45 is engaged. In this case, the driving force is transmitted from the shaft A to the clutch 4
5. Directly transmitted to the output shaft 1 via the gear train 55.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the variator 4 and the sprockets 100 and 101 of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the sprockets 100 and 101 of FIG. 2 and 3, reference numeral 107 denotes a housing that surrounds the drive system components of the continuously variable transmission. Axis A
Is the housing 107 via the bearings 200 and 201
The shaft B is rotatably supported by the housing 107 via bearings 202 and 203. The sprocket 100 that is non-rotatably connected to the output disk 41 is mounted on retainers 102 and 103 via a bearing 104. Retainer 1
A sprocket 101 is further attached to 02 and 103 via a bearing 105, and the sprocket 100 and the sprocket 101 are drivingly connected by a chain 42. The shaft B is drivingly connected to the sprocket 101 via a spline joint 106.

That is, in this embodiment, the sprocket 10
The distance between the axis 0 and the axis of the sprocket 101 is determined by the retainers 102 and 103, and is not determined by the distance between the axes A and B. Specifically, the sprockets 100 and 101 are not supported by the shafts A and B, but are supported by retainers 102 and 103. Therefore, even if the sprockets 100 and 101 receive a force on the side approaching each other due to the tension of the chain 42, all the forces are applied to the retainers 102 and 103, and the shafts A and
It does not cover axis B. On the other hand, in the conventional case, since the retainer is not provided, when the sprockets 100 and 101 receive a force on the side approaching each other due to the tension of the chain 42, the axes A and B supporting the sprockets 100 and 101 become They are pulled to the sides approaching each other and bend.

According to the present embodiment, the positions where the shafts A and B are pulled toward each other by the tension of the chain 42, that is, the positions of the sprockets 100 and 101,
In order to maintain the distance between the axes A and B at a predetermined distance, retainers 102 and 103 are arranged so that tension is not applied to the axes A and B. Therefore, a relatively large load is applied to the output shaft 1 of the continuously variable transmission, and the chain 42
Even if a considerably large tension is generated, the tension is absorbed by the retainers 102 and 103. As a result, no force is applied to the shafts A and B in a direction in which they approach each other. That is, it is possible to prevent the shafts A and B from bending without increasing the shaft diameters of the shafts A and B.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration in which the tension of the chain 42 is not applied to the shafts A and B as described above, the sprocket 101 and the shaft B are connected via the spline joint 106. Drive-coupled. Therefore, the housing 107, the bearings 200, 20
1, 202, 203, the distance between the axes A and B, the retainers 102, 103, and the bearing 10
Even when the distance between the axes of the sprocket 100 and the axis of the sprocket 101 defined by 4 and 105 does not match due to a manufacturing error, the manufacturing error is absorbed by the spline joint 106. That is, the shafts A and B are the retainers 102 and 103, the bearings 104 and 10
5, bearing 107, bearing 2
00, 201, 202 and 203 only.
Therefore, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the shafts A and B are supported at three points by both the housing 107 and the retainers 102 and 103.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sprockets 100 and 101 and the chain 42 showing the direction of tension of the chain 42. 4A is a cross-sectional view according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view when the ratio of the number of teeth between the sprockets 100 and 101 ′ is set to a value other than 1: 1. is there. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the present embodiment, the ratio of the number of teeth between the sprocket 100 and the sprocket 101 is set to approximately 1: 1.
Occurs in the same direction as the direction L connecting the axis of the sprocket 100 and the axis of the sprocket 101. therefore,
Even when the sprockets 100 and 101 are not rotating normally, it is difficult for the retainers 102 and 103 receiving the tension T to generate a rotational moment. On the other hand, FIG.
If the gear ratio between the sprocket 100 and the sprocket 101 'is set to a value other than 1: 1 as shown in FIG.
The tension T 'of the chain 42' is generated in a direction different from the direction L connecting the axis of the sprocket 100 and the axis of the sprocket 101 '. As a result, for example, when the sprockets 100 and 101 'are not rotating normally, a rotational moment is likely to be generated in the retainer receiving the tension T'.

According to the present embodiment, the sprocket 10
Since the tooth ratio of 0 and 101 is set to approximately 1: 1, the chain tension is generated in a direction other than the direction L as the tooth ratio is set to a value other than 1: 1. Can be avoided. According to the present embodiment, the retainer 1
02, 103 are not supported by the housing 107, but the bearing, the sprocket 100, the bearing 10
4 is supported on the shaft A via the retainer 10.
The structure of 2 and 103 can be simplified.

In the above-described embodiment, the drive transmission between the shafts A and B is performed by the sprockets 100 and 101 and the chain 42.
However, in other embodiments, pulleys and belts may be used instead.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a continuously variable transmission according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the continuously variable transmission according to the present embodiment differs from the continuously variable transmission according to the first embodiment in that the position where the retainers 102 'and 103' are aligned is not on the outer side but on the inner side of the chain 42. Different from a step transmission.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when a relatively large load is applied to the output shaft of the continuously variable transmission and a considerable tension is generated in the chain, the tension is absorbed by the retainer. By doing so, it is possible to avoid bending of the first shaft and the second shaft without having to increase the shaft diameters of the first shaft and the second shaft.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the center distance defined by the housing and the center distance defined by the retainer have a manufacturing error, the first shaft and the second shaft can be used. Is restrained only by the housing, not by the retainer, thereby avoiding the inconvenience associated with the first shaft and the second shaft being supported at three points by the housing and the retainer.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the chain or belt is moved in a direction other than the direction connecting the first axis and the second axis with the gear ratio set to a value other than 1: 1. Can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a variator 4 and a sprocket 100 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing 101 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing sprockets 100 and 101 in FIG. 2 in a further enlarged manner.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sprockets 100 and 101 and the chain 42 showing directions of tension of the chain 42.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 42 ... chain 100, 101 ... sprocket 102, 103 ... retainer 106 ... spline joint 107 ... housing A, B ... shaft

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3J049 AA01 AA08 BF01 BH02 3J051 AA03 AA08 BA03 BB02 BD02 BE09 CB06 EC01 EC02 ED07 ED18 FA01 3J063 AB22 AB25 AB33 AC03 BB12 CA01 CB23 CB33 CB47 CD42 CD63

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a continuously variable transmission in which a chain or a belt is transmitted between a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft and the second shaft are moved closer to each other by tension of the chain or the belt. A continuously variable transmission in which a retainer for maintaining a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft at a predetermined distance is disposed at a position where the first shaft is pulled. 2. A housing, which supports the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft defined by the housing and a distance defined by the retainer are provided. 2. The sprocket or pulley according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and a sprocket or a pulley thereof are configured by a spline joint in order to allow a manufacturing error of an inter-axis distance between the one shaft and the second shaft. The continuously variable transmission as described. 3. The continuously variable transmission ratio according to claim 1, wherein the gear ratio of the sprocket or pulley of the first shaft to the sprocket or pulley of the second shaft is approximately 1: 1.