Continuously and/or infinitely variable transmissions and methods therefor

1. An infinitely variable transmission comprising:

a rotatable input shaft arranged along a longitudinal axis of the transmission, the input shaft adapted to supply a lubricant to the interior of the transmission;

a stator assembly coupled to, and coaxial with, the input shaft;

a plurality of planets operably coupled to the stator assembly, wherein the planets are arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis of the transmission;

a traction ring operably coupled to the planets, wherein the traction ring is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft; and

a housing operably coupled to the traction ring, wherein the housing is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft.

2. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein the input shaft and the stator assembly are rigidly coupled.

3. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 1 , wherein the traction ring further comprises:

a substantially annular ring having a front face and a rear face;

a plurality of bi-directional ramps located on the front face, wherein the cross-section of the ramps is curved; and

a contact surface located on the rear face.

4. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 3 , further comprising a lubricant manifold configured to supply a lubricant to the input shaft.

5. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 4 , further comprising a load cam ring coaxial with the plurality of planets, the load cam ring comprising:

a substantially annular ring having a front face and a rear face;

a plurality of bi-directional ramps located on the front face of the load cam ring, wherein the cross-section of said ramps is curved; and

a plurality of engagement features located on the rear face of the load cam ring.

6. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of load cam rollers coupled to the load cam ring.

7. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 4 , further comprising a shift rod coupled to the input shaft.

8. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 7 , wherein the shift rod is arranged in a central bore of the input shaft.

9. The infinitely variable transmission of claim 7 , wherein the shift rod is adapted to supply a lubricant to the interior of the transmission.

10. A method for lubricating internal components of a transmission having a plurality of planets operably coupled to a stator assembly, and a traction ring operably coupled to the planets, the method comprising:

providing a lubricant manifold configured to cooperate with a lubricant source;

coupling a main axle of the transmission to the lubricant manifold, wherein the main axle is adapted to receive a rotational power;

providing a shift rod arranged in a central bore of the main axle, the shift rod having a central bore;

supplying a lubricant via the lubricant manifold to the main axle;

delivering the lubricant via a main axle lubricant passage to the shift rod;

delivering the lubricant through the central bore of the shift rod to a shift rod lubricant passage;

providing a housing operably coupled to the traction ring, wherein the housing is substantially fixed from rotating with the main axle; and

adapting the traction ring to be substantially fixed from rotating with the main axle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising supplying a pressurized lubricant via the lubricant source.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising delivering the lubricant through a lubricant delivery passage of the main axle to the interior of the transmission.

13. An infinitely variable transmission comprising:

a lubricant manifold configured to cooperate with a lubricant source;

a rotatable input shaft arranged along a longitudinal axis of the transmission, the input shaft coupled to the lubricant manifold, the input shaft adapted to supply a lubricant to the interior of the transmission;

a stator assembly coupled to, and coaxial with, the input shaft;

a plurality of planets operably coupled to the stator assembly, wherein the planets are arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis of the transmission;

a traction ring operably coupled to the planets, wherein the traction ring is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft; and

a housing operably coupled to the traction ring, wherein the housing is substantially fixed from rotating with the input shaft.

14. The transmission of claim 13 , wherein the lubricant source is pressurized.

15. The transmission of claim 14 , further comprising a load cam ring coaxial with the plurality of planets, the load cam ring comprising:

a substantially annular ring having a front face and a rear face;

a plurality of bi-directional ramps located on the front face of the load cam ring, wherein the cross-section of said ramps is curved; and

a plurality of engagement features located on the rear face of the load cam ring.

16. The transmission of claim 15 , wherein the traction ring further comprises:

a substantially annular ring having a front face and a rear face;

a plurality of bi-directional ramps located on the front face, wherein the cross-section of the ramps is curved; and

a contact surface located on the rear face.