ELECTROMOTIVE DRIVES
A transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The transmission provides multiple powerpaths and can be combined with electrical components to provide motor/generator functionality, which reduces the overall size and complexity of the motor and transmission compared to when they are constructed separately. In one embodiment, rotatable components of a continuously variable transmission are coupled separately to an electrical rotor and to an electrical stator so that the rotor and stator rotate simultaneously in opposite directions relative to one another. In other embodiments, an electrical rotor is configured to transfer torque to or from a disc that is in contact with a plurality of speed adjusters, while an electrical stator is configured to transfer torque to a shaft that is operationally coupled to the speed adjusters via an idler.
1 . A variable speed transmission integrated with an electric motor, comprising:
a rotatable shaft coupled to an electric stator of the electric motor;
a first rotatable disc coupled to an electric rotor of the electric motor, the first rotatable disc configured to receive power from an external power source; and
a plurality of tiltable speed adjusters interposed between the first rotatable disc and a second rotatable disc, wherein tilting the plurality of speed adjusters adjusts a speed ratio of the variable speed transmission independent of a speed of the electric motor.
2 . The variable speed transmission of claim 1 , wherein the electric stator is rigidly coupled to a transfer shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the transfer shaft is rigidly attached to an idler, is capable of axial movement, and transfers power.
3 . The variable speed transmission of claim 1 , further comprising a cage rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the cage configured to position the balls radially and axially.
4 . The variable speed transmission of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the electric stator and the electric rotor are configured to rotate at a constant speed.
5 . The variable speed transmission of claim 4 , wherein the electric stator and electric rotor are rotated at a constant relative speed.
6 . The variable speed transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first rotatable disc is coupled to a plurality of magnets of the electric rotor.
7 . A vehicle comprising:
an external power source;
an electric motor, comprising:
an electric stator coupled to a rotatable shaft in a variable speed transmission; and
an electric rotor coupled to a first rotatable disc in the variable speed transmission, the rotatable disc configured to receive power from the external power source; and
a plurality of tiltable speed adjusters interposed between the first rotatable disc and a second rotatable disc, wherein tilting the plurality of speed adjusters adjusts a speed ratio of the variable speed transmission independent of a speed of the electric motor.
8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electric stator is rigidly coupled to a transfer shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the transfer shaft is rigidly attached to an idler, is capable of axial movement, and transfers power.
9 . The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a cage rotatable about a longitudinal axis, the cage configured to position the balls radially and axially.
10 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein one or more of the electric stator and the electric rotor are configured to rotate at a constant speed.
11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the electric stator and electric rotor are rotated at a constant relative speed.
12 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electric rotor comprises a plurality of magnets coupled to the first rotatable disc.