JP2002250421A - Variable speed change gear - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a friction transmission variable speed change gear, capable of gaining a high driving force transmission efficiency using a simple structure. SOLUTION: Revolving members 2, 4 on driving side and driven side are arranged rotatably and opposite about a revolving center 1, and a driving force is transmitted by a driving force transmitting mechanism 6 between these. A revolving member 4 at driven side has a contact surface 4b obliquely expanding inwardly in the circumferential direction, and a revolving member 2 at driving side also has the same contact surface at driving side. The driving force transmitting mechanism 6 contains spheres 12A, 12B, a holding means 14 for holding thereof around rotating centers 11A, 11B in the plane passing the centers and containing the revolving center 1, a controlling means 16 for changing the rotating center direction in the plane containing the revolving center, and a central revolving member 18 which is rotatable and arranged about the revolving center 1. Either of the spheres 12A, 12B come in contact with the contact surfaces at driving side and driven side and outer periphery of the central revolving member 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of driving force transmission, and more particularly to a friction transmission type continuously variable transmission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a friction transmission type continuously variable transmission, a driving-side rotating member and a driven-side rotating member are opposed to each other so as to be coaxially rotatable. A plurality of driving force transmitting spheres are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the rotating member, and these spheres are formed as cones of the driving side and driven side rotating members. Some are held by a holding ring from a radially outer side with respect to the rotation center of the rotating member so as to be capable of rotating around the rotation axis while being in contact with both surfaces. In this transmission, the attitude of the spheres is controlled so as to change the angle formed by the rotation axis of each sphere with respect to the rotation center in a section passing through the rotation centers of the driving-side rotation member and the driven-side rotation member, so that the transmission can be shifted. Is working.

However, in this transmission, the driving force transmitting sphere is brought into contact with the convex conical surfaces (that is, diagonally outward surfaces) of the rotating members on both the driving side and the driven side.
The efficiency of driving force transmission based on contact friction is not sufficient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a friction transmission type continuously variable transmission capable of obtaining high driving force transmission efficiency with a simple structure.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a drive-side rotating member and a driving-side rotating member which are arranged to be rotatable around a first rotation center are provided to achieve the above object. A driven-side rotating member; and a driving-force transmitting mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the driven-side rotating member to the driven-side rotating member, wherein the driving-side rotating member faces the driven-side rotating member. A driving side contact surface extending obliquely inwardly around the first rotation center on the side to be driven, and the driven side rotation member is provided on the side facing the driving side rotation member with the first rotation side. An obliquely inward driven contact surface extending in a circumferential direction around the rotation center, wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes a plurality of spheres arranged around the first rotation center; A plurality of spheres each passing through the center of the first rotation center And a control unit for changing the direction of the second rotation center in a plane including the first rotation center. In addition, there is provided a continuously variable transmission, wherein each of the plurality of spheres is brought into contact with the drive side contact surface and the driven side contact surface.

In one aspect of the present invention, the driving force transmitting mechanism is disposed so as to be relatively rotatable around the first rotation center with respect to the driving side rotating member and the driven side rotating member. And a plurality of spheres abut on the outer peripheral surface of the central rotating member. In one aspect of the present invention, the central rotating member is rotatably held by the holding means. In one aspect of the present invention, the center rotating member is rotatably held by the driving side rotating member and the driven side rotating member.

In one aspect of the present invention, the holding means has a rotation axis in the direction of the second rotation center for holding the sphere and a support arm for supporting the rotation axis. In one aspect of the present invention, the control means changes the angle of the rotation axis with respect to the first rotation center by rotating the support arm with respect to the plurality of spheres.

In one aspect of the present invention, the holding means supports a rotation axis for holding the sphere in a direction of the second rotation center and both ends of the rotation axis so as to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. And a pair of guide support plates, each of which has a guide elongated hole extending in the radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. In one aspect of the present invention, the control means moves one end of the rotation shaft, which penetrates the pair of guide support plates, into the radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. In this case, the angle of the rotation axis with respect to the first rotation center is changed equally.

In one aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of spheres is located at a position closer to the first rotation center than the spherical portion which is brought into contact with the driving contact surface and the driven contact surface. A support surface formed rotationally symmetrically with respect to the second rotation center; and a rotation shaft protruding from the support surface, and the holding unit moves the rotation shaft and the support surface of the sphere by the second rotation. A support member rotatably supported about the center is provided. In one aspect of the present invention, the control means changes the angle of the rotation shaft with respect to the first rotation center by rotating the support member with respect to the plurality of spheres. In one aspect of the present invention, the control means may change the direction of the second rotation center for each of the plurality of spheres to the first sphere.
This is changed through a state orthogonal to the rotation center.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of spheres are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the first rotation center. In one aspect of the present invention, the driving-side contact surface and the driven-side contact surface are symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the first rotation center.

[0011]

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

FIGS. 1 to 3 are an exploded perspective view, a partially exploded perspective view and a perspective view showing an assembled state, respectively, of a continuously variable transmission according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. It is sectional drawing.

In these figures, the driving-side rotating member 2 has a rotating shaft 2a rotatable around the rotation center 1 in the Z direction, and the driven-side rotating member 4 is rotatable around the rotation center 1. It has a rotating shaft 4a. That is, the driving-side rotating member 2 and the driven-side rotating member 4 are opposed to each other so as to be rotatable coaxially. The drive-side rotating member 2 has an obliquely-inwardly-facing drive-side contact surface 2 b that extends in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1 on the side facing the driven-side rotating member 4. Similarly, the driven-side rotating member 4 has a diagonally inward driven-side contact surface 4 b that extends in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1 on the side facing the driving-side rotating member 2. These drive side contact surfaces 2
b and the driven side contact surface 4b are formed symmetrically with respect to a plane (XY plane) orthogonal to the rotation center 1.

A driving force transmitting mechanism 6 for transmitting a driving force from the driving side rotating member 2 to the driven side rotating member 4 is disposed between the driving side rotating member 2 and the driven side rotating member 4. I have. The driving force transmission mechanism 6 has two spheres 12A and 12B uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1. The spheres 12A and 12B pass through their centers and include rotation centers (rotation centers) 11A and 1 in a plane including the rotation center 1.
It is held by holding means 14 so that it can rotate around 1B. The holding means 14 includes rotation axes 14A1, 14 in the direction of the rotation center for holding the spheres 12A, 12B in a rotatable manner.
B1 and support arms 14A2 and 14B2 extending in the Y direction so as to support the rotation axis in the XZ plane. The support arms 14A2 and 14B2 are rotatably supported by the frame of the holding means 14, respectively.

Each of the spheres 12A, 12B
The control means 16 for changing the directions of the rotation axes 14A1 and 14B1 in the XZ plane including the rotation center 1 is additionally provided. The control means 16 includes support arms 14A2, 14B2
And gears 16A and 16B meshed with each other, and a shift lever 16 'fixed to the support arm 14B2. By rotating the speed change lever 16 ′ around the Y direction, the angle formed by the spherical rotation axes 14 A 1 and 14 B 1 with respect to the rotation center 1 can be changed. The holding means 14 is also provided with a central rotating member 18 arranged to be rotatable about the center of rotation 1. Central rotating member 18
Is rotatable relative to the drive side rotation member 2 and the driven side rotation member 4 around the rotation center 1.

Each of the spheres 12A and 12B is in contact with the driving contact surface 2b, the driven contact surface 4b, and the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the central rotating member 18. The frame of the holding means 14 is maintained in a state where rotation about the rotation center 1 is prevented by means not shown.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

The rotational force of the driving-side rotating member 2 about the rotation center 1 is transmitted to the spheres 12A and 12B by contact friction between the driving-side contact surface 2b and the spheres 12A and 12B. Center of rotation 11A, 11
It is rotated around B. These spheres 12A, 12B
In the case of the rotation, the central rotating member 18 is rotated by the contact friction with the spheres 12A and 12B. Sphere 12
When A and 12B rotate, the driven-side rotating member 4 is rotated around the rotation center 1 by the contact friction between the spheres 12A and 12B and the driven-side contact surface 4b.

By rotating the shift lever 16 'around the Y direction, the support arm 14B2 and the gears 16A,
6B, the support arms 14A2 connected via the rotation shafts 14A1 are rotated in the opposite directions around the Y direction by the same angle.
14B1 can be turned around the Y direction by the same angle in opposite directions. By setting the angle between the rotation centers 11A and 11B with respect to the Y direction in this manner,
The gear ratio is set. That is, the distance from the rotation centers 11A and 11B to the contact positions between the driving contact surfaces 2b and the spheres 12A and 12B, and the distance from the rotation centers 11A and 11B to the contact positions between the driven contact surfaces 4b and the spheres 12A and 12B. The gear ratio is determined according to the ratio.

Such a shift operation will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6A, the speed change lever 16 'is oriented in the X direction, and the rotation centers 11A and 11B are parallel to the rotation center 1. In this case, the speed is constant (speed ratio 1). FIG.
In (b), the shift lever 16 'is at an angle + with respect to the X direction.
θ and the rotation centers 11A and 11B are inclined by an angle + θ with respect to the rotation center 1, and in this case, the speed is increased. In FIG. 6C, the shift lever 16 'is inclined by an angle-[theta] with respect to the X direction, and the rotation centers 11A and 11A are rotated.
B is inclined by an angle -θ with respect to the rotation center 1, and in this case, deceleration is performed.

In this embodiment, in order to ensure sufficient transmission of the driving force, the driving-side rotating member 2 and the driven-side rotating member 4 are pressed so as to approach each other in the Z direction. As a means for such pressing, a known mechanism that converts the rotational force of the driving-side rotating member 2 into a pressing force in the direction of the rotation center 1 can be used. With this pressing, the sphere 12
A and 12B are pressed toward the rotation center 1, and the pressing force is received by the central rotation member 18. Sphere 12
Combined with the fact that A and 12B are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1, the pressing force maintains a good balance, and does not substantially cause vibration or the like.

In the present embodiment, since both the drive side contact surface 2b and the driven side contact surface 4b are formed obliquely inward, these contact surfaces and the spheres 12A, 12B are formed.
The efficiency of driving force transmission by contact friction with B is high.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are an exploded perspective view and a partially exploded perspective view showing a continuously variable transmission according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views thereof. In these drawings, members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the holding means 14. That is, the frame of the holding means 14 has a pair of plates 141 and 142 in an XY plane arranged in parallel with each other, one end attached to the plate 141 and the other end attached to the plate 142. Connecting members 143A, 143B; 144A, 14
4B. The support arm 14A2 is formed so as to surround the sphere 12A and is rotatably held by frame connecting members 143A and 144A on both front and rear sides of the sphere in the Y direction. Similarly, the support arm 14B2 is
It has a form surrounding B and is rotatably held by frame connecting members 143B and 144B on both front and rear sides of the sphere in the Y direction.

In this embodiment, the central rotating member 18 is used.
Are Z supported at both ends by plates 141 and 142
It is rotatably supported around the center of rotation 1 via bearings around the support rod in the direction.

In this embodiment, the plates 141 and 142
144A, 14 connecting members 143A, 143B;
By providing an adjustment margin at the mounting position of the 4B in the X direction, the spheres 12A, 12B are held by the central rotating member 18 when the spheres 12A, 12B are held by the holding means 14 during assembly.
To the supporting arm 1
Connecting members 143A, 143 holding 4A2, 14B2
B; 144A and 144B can be fixed to the plates 141 and 142. Thereby, the driving force transmission efficiency can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed, and the same operation and effect can be obtained.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are an exploded perspective view and a partially exploded perspective view showing a continuously variable transmission according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are sectional views thereof.
In these drawings, members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the present embodiment, three spherical bodies 12 uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1 are used for transmitting the driving force.
A, 12B and 12C are used. These spheres 12
A, 12B, and 12C are held by holding means so as to be able to rotate around rotation centers 11A, 11B, and 11C in a plane including the rotation center 1 through the centers thereof.
The holding means is a rotation axis 14A1, 14B1, 1 in the direction of the rotation center for holding the spheres 12A, 12B, 11C in a rotatable manner.
4C1 and a pair of guide support plates 145 and 146 for supporting the rotation shafts in a plane including the rotation center 1. The guide support plates 145, 146 are prevented from rotating around the rotation center 1 by means not shown, and are maintained in a mutually fixed state.

The guide support plates 145, 146 have guide elongated holes 145A, 145 elongated in the radial direction with respect to the rotation center 1.
B, 145C; 146A, 146B, 146C are formed, and both ends of the rotation shaft 14A1 are guided by the guide elongated holes 145A, 146A.
Both ends of each rotation shaft are matched with the corresponding guide holes so that both ends of the rotation shaft 14B1 are guided by 46B and both ends of the rotation shaft 14C1 are guided by the guide slots 145C and 146C.

A control plate 161 which constitutes control means is adjacent to the guide support plate 146 and is rotatable relative to the guide support plate 146 around the rotation center 1.
Is arranged. The control plate 161 has a cam elongated hole 161 that is slender and oblique to the radial direction with respect to the rotation center 1.
A, 161B, 161C are formed, and the rotation shafts 14A1, 14B1, 14 corresponding to the insides of these cam slots.
One end of C1 extends. The relationship between the guide slot 146A and the corresponding cam slot 161A is as follows.
6B and the corresponding cam long hole 161B, and also the guide long hole 146C and the corresponding cam long hole 161C.

The control plate 161 is provided with a shift lever 161 'extending in the radial direction. Shift lever 16
By rotating 1 ′ around the Z direction, the angles formed by the spherical rotation axes 14A1, 14B1, and 14C1 with respect to the rotation center 1 can be changed. That is, the control plate 16
1 rotates about the center of rotation 1
The position of one end of the rotation shafts 14A1, 14B1, 14C1 at the position where the guide slots 61A to 161C and the guide slots 146A to 146C overlap is changed, whereby the rotation shaft 14A is changed.
The inclination angles of the rotation centers 1, 1B1, 14C1 with respect to the rotation center 1 are set. In this case, the rotation shafts 14A1, 14B1,
The positions of the other ends of the 14C1 are also the guide slots 145A to 145C.
Change within. In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 14
The inclination angles of A1, 14B1 and 14C1 with respect to the rotation center 1 depend not only on the rotation angle of the transmission lever 161 'but also on both the rotation angle and the inclination angles of the cam slots 161A, 161B and 161C.

In this embodiment, the center rotating member 18 is rotatably supported by the driving-side rotating member 2 and the driven-side rotating member 4 via bearings. And the sphere 12
A, 12B, and 12C are all in contact with the drive-side contact surface 2b, the driven-side contact surface 4b, and the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the central rotating member 18.

In this embodiment, the same operation as in the first and second embodiments is performed, and the same operation and effect can be obtained. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the driving force is transmitted using the three spheres 12A, 12B, and 12C, a larger driving force can be transmitted.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a continuously variable transmission according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a sectional view thereof.
In these drawings, members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 to 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the present embodiment, six spherical bodies 12 uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1 are used for transmitting the driving force.
A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, and 12F are used. Each of these spheres 12A to 12F passes through its center and includes a rotation center 11A in a plane including the rotation center 1.
Are held by holding means 14 so that they can rotate around. The holding means 14 includes spheres 12A to 12F.
The rotation axis 14A1 in the direction of the rotation center for holding
14B1, 14C1, 14D1, 14E1, 14F1
, And support arms 14A2, 14B2,..., 14F2 for supporting the rotation axes in a plane including the rotation center 1. The support arms 14A2 to 14F2 are
4, the rotation center 1 and the rotation center 1
Are supported so as to be rotatable around a direction perpendicular to a plane including 1A,.

The holding means 14 includes the spheres 12A to 12F
The control means for changing the directions of the rotation axes 14A1 to 14F1 in a plane including the rotation center 1 is additionally provided. The control means includes gears 16 attached to both ends of the support arms 14A2 to 14F2 and meshing with each other adjacent to each other.
A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F, and a shift lever 16 'fixed to the support arm 14A2.
By rotating the shift lever 16 'around the Y direction,
The angle formed by the spherical rotation axes 14A1 to 14F1 with respect to the rotation center 1 can be changed. The holding means 14 is also provided with a central rotating member 18 arranged via a bearing so as to be rotatable around the rotation center 1.
The central rotating member 18 is relatively rotatable around the rotation center 1 with respect to the driving-side rotating member 2 and the driven-side rotating member 4.

Each of the spheres 12A to 12F is brought into contact with the driving-side contact surface 2b, the driven-side contact surface 4b, and the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the central rotating member 18. The frame of the holding means 14 is maintained in a state where rotation about the rotation center 1 is prevented by means not shown.

By rotating the shift lever 16 'around the Y direction, the support arm 14A2 is rotated, and the gear 16
The other support arms 14B2 to 14F2 are similarly rotated by the same angle due to the meshing between adjacent ones of A to 16F. Thus, the rotation center 11A,...
The speed ratio is set by setting the angle that .. makes with the rotation center 1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, basically, the same operations as those of the first and second embodiments are performed, and the same operation and effect can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, since the driving force is transmitted using the six spheres 12A to 12F, a larger driving force can be transmitted.

The mechanism of this embodiment can be applied to a case where the number of spheres is plural other than six. When the number of spheres is small, such as two or three, by using a dummy support arm that does not support the sphere, it is possible to transmit the rotational power of the rotation center from the shift lever 16 ′ to all the sphere rotation axes. it can.

FIGS. 17 to 21 show a fifth embodiment of the continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.
17 is a partially exploded perspective view, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 20 is a front view of a driving force transmission mechanism, FIG.
1 is an exploded perspective view showing a sphere and a part of its holding means. In these drawings, members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1 to 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the drive-side rotary shaft 2a and the driven-side rotary shaft 4a are moved around the rotation center 1 via bearings 3 and 5 by housings (not shown). It is supported so that it can rotate.

In the present embodiment, the drive-side rotary shaft 2a extends through the main portion (the member having the drive-side contact surface 2b) of the drive-side rotary member 2 toward the driven-side rotary member 4.
The drive-side rotary shaft 2a is adapted to be able to rotate slightly relative to the drive-side rotary member main body around the rotation center 1. This adaptation is performed as follows. That is, a flange 2a 'is formed on the drive-side rotary shaft 2a at a position farther from the drive-side rotary member main body when viewed from the driven-side rotary member 4. A roller cam mechanism for converting a rotational force into a pressing force in the direction of the rotation center 1 is disposed between the flange 2a 'and the driving-side rotating member main body. The roller cam mechanism includes a pressing plate 2 c and a rotation center 1.
, Four holding rollers 2e, and four circumferential cam surfaces 2 formed on the driving-side rotating member main body corresponding to the rollers 2d.
f. The holding plate 2e keeps each roller 2d rotatable so that its axial direction is radially arranged with respect to the center of rotation 1, and appropriately holds the relative positional relationship of each roller 2d. The position of the cam surface 2f in the Z direction is changed so that the cam surface 2f gradually becomes deeper along a specific circumferential direction.

The fitting between the distal end of the drive-side rotating shaft 2a and the driven-side rotating member 4 is performed as follows.
That is, an angular contact bearing 4c is disposed between the driven side rotating member 4 and the tip of the drive side rotating shaft 2a, and a collar 4d is provided at the tip of the driving side rotating shaft to receive the bearing 4c. Are slidably and pivotably mounted. A male screw is formed at the tip of the drive-side rotary shaft as shown in the figure, and a disc spring 4e is disposed between the nut 4f and the collar 4d adapted to this. By changing the position of the nut 4f on the male screw, the Z-direction position of the collar 4d or the Z-direction pressing force on the driven-side rotating member 4 can be adjusted. Further, the distal end of the drive side rotating shaft 2a and the driven side
And a radial bearing 4g is interposed between them.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, in this embodiment, the sphere 12A has a spherical portion 12Aa, a support surface portion 12Ab, and a rotation shaft portion 12Ac. Spherical part 12A
a has a substantially hemispherical shape and is brought into contact with the drive side contact surface 2b and the driven side contact surface 4b. Rotating shaft 12Ac
Project from the support surface portion 12Ab toward the rotation center 1 in the direction of the sphere rotation center 11A. Support surface 12A
b is formed rotationally symmetric with respect to the spherical rotation center 11A, and in this embodiment, is particularly a plane orthogonal to the spherical rotation center 11A.

The sphere 12A is supported by a support member 14Aa constituting a holding means. This support is provided as follows. That is, the support member 14Aa includes:
A support surface is formed so as to be orthogonal to the sphere rotation center 11A and opposed to the sphere support surface portion 12Ab, and the sphere rotation shaft portion 12Ac is inserted so as to be rotatable around the sphere rotation center 11A. An insertion hole 14a 'is formed. A thrust bearing is interposed between the support surface of the support member 14Aa and the sphere support surface portion 12Ab. The bearing is a plate member 1 attached to the support surface of the support member 14Aa and the sphere support surface portion 12Ab, respectively.
4Ac, 14Ae, and a ring-shaped holding plate 14Ad rotatably held between them, and the spherical rotation center 11
And balls 14Ad 'evenly distributed around A. At the tip of the spherical rotation shaft 12Ac, the spherical 12
A locking clip 14Af for preventing A from dropping from the support member 14Aa is attached. Support arms 14Ab are attached to both ends of the support member 14Aa.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 20, in this embodiment, the spheres 12B and 12C equivalent to the sphere 12A described above are replaced with the support member 14 described above.
It is supported using support members 14Ba and 14Ca equivalent to Aa, support arms 14Bb and 14Cb equivalent to Aa, and other equivalent members. The holding means constituting the driving force transmission mechanism 6 includes a center member 15 and three rotation support members 15 attached to the center member and each having two rotation support holes.
1, 152 and 153. Then, a first rotation support hole of the rotation support member 151 and a first rotation support hole of the rotation support member 152 are formed.
The support arms 14Ab at both ends of the support member 14Aa rotate (the center of this rotation is the spherical body 12A).
(Which passes through the center of the spherical shape of the support arm).
6A1 and 16A2 are attached. Similarly,
The support member 14 is formed by the second rotation support hole of the rotation support member 152 and the first rotation support hole of the rotation support member 153.
The support arms 14Bb at both ends of Ba are inserted so as to be rotatable (the center of this rotation passes through the center of the spherical shape of the sphere 12B), and bevel gears 16B1 and 16B2 are respectively attached to the tips of these support arms. Is attached.
Further, similarly, the support arms 14Cb at both ends of the support member 14Ca are rotated by the second rotation support holes of the rotation support member 151 and the second rotation support holes of the rotation support member 153. (The center of this rotation passes through the center of the spherical shape of the spherical body 12C) so that it can be inserted. The bevel gears 16A1 and 16C1 are in mesh, the bevel gears 16A2 and 16B1 are in mesh, and the bevel gears 16B2 and 16C2 are in mesh.

Support arms 14A at both ends of support member 14Aa
One end of b has a tip extending a little further than the bevel gear 16A1, and a transmission lever 16 'is attached to an extension formed by this. Note that, in order to suppress the rotation of the driving force transmission mechanism 6 around the rotation center 1, the rotation support members 151, 152, and 153 are attached to the above-mentioned casing (not shown).

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

The rotational force input from the drive-side rotary shaft 2a is transmitted to the main part of the drive-side rotary member 2 via a roller cam mechanism. At this time, the main portion of the driving-side rotating member 2 presses the driven-side rotating member 4 via the spheres 12A, 12B, and 12C, and the driven-side rotating member 4 is pushed along the rotation center 1. The pressing force and the repulsive force of the disc spring 4e are balanced to maintain the balance, and the main part of the driving-side rotating member 2 in the direction of the rotation center 1, the spheres 12A, 12B, 12C, the holding means thereof, and the driven-side rotating member 4 Is determined.

The rotational force transmitted from the drive-side rotary shaft 2a around the rotation center 1 of the drive-side rotary member 2 is generated by the contact friction between the drive-side contact surface 2b and the spherical portions of the spheres 12A, 12B, and 12C. The spheres 12A, 12B, and 12C are rotated around the rotation center 11A and the like, respectively. When the spheres 12A, 12B, 12C rotate, the spheres 12A, 1
The driven side rotating member 4 is rotated around the rotation center 1 by the contact friction between the driven side contact surface 4b and the driven side contact surface 4b. The driven rotation member 4 rotates in a direction opposite to the drive rotation member 2.

By rotating the shift lever 16 ', the support arms 14Ab and the support arms 14Bb, 14C associated with the spheres 12B, 12C connected thereto via the bevel gears are provided.
Cb is rotated by the same angle, and the rotation axis of each sphere (12Ac
Etc.) can be rotated by the same angle. The rotation range of the rotation shaft portion is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 19 for the sphere 12A. As shown in the drawing, the direction of the rotation shaft portion is changed to the deceleration side and the acceleration side through a state of a speed ratio 1 orthogonal to the rotation center 1. In the present embodiment, it is possible to widen the speed ratio range. For example, a shift state in which the driving-side rotating member 2 rotates and the driven-side rotating member 4 does not rotate is also possible. Even if the torque transmitted from the driving source to the driving-side rotating member 2 is small, the torque transmission starts (starts). Can be performed favorably.

In this embodiment, the spheres 12A, 12A
B and 12C are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation center 1, and the pressing forces of the respective parts maintain a good balance, and do not substantially cause vibration or the like. Further, since both the driving side contact surface 2b and the driven side contact surface 4b are formed obliquely inward, the efficiency of the driving force transmission due to the contact friction between these contact surfaces and the spheres 12A, 12B, 12C is reduced. high.

As described above, in the present invention, the sphere is
It is not necessarily limited to the one having a spherical surface completely or almost entirely, and is rotatable around the second rotation center in a state of being brought into contact with both the driving contact surface and the driven contact surface during the shifting operation. Any material may be used as long as it has a substantially hemispherical shape as described above or a spherical portion close thereto. In the present invention, the center of the sphere indicates the center of the spherical shape of the spherical portion.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A plurality of spheres are brought into contact with the obliquely inward contact surfaces of the driving-side and driven-side rotating members, and a shift operation is performed by controlling the inclination of the sphere rotation center with respect to the rotation center of the driving-side and driven-side rotating members. Therefore, it is possible to obtain high driving force transmission efficiency with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a shift operation of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view of the continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a continuously variable transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a partially exploded perspective view of the continuously variable transmission of the present invention.

18 is an exploded perspective view of the continuously variable transmission shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the continuously variable transmission of FIG. 17;

20 is a front view of a driving force transmission mechanism of the continuously variable transmission shown in FIG.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view showing a sphere of the continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 17 and a part of its holding means.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 rotation center of rotating member 2 driving-side rotating member 2a driving-side rotating shaft 2a 'flange portion 2b driving-side contact surface 2c pressing plate 2d roller 2e roller holding plate 2f cam surface 3,5 bearing 4 driven-side rotating member 4a driven-side rotation Shaft 4b Driven contact surface 4c Bearing 4d Collar 4e Disc spring 4f Nut 4g Radial bearing 6 Driving force transmission mechanism 11A, 11B, 11C Spherical rotation center 12A to 12F Spherical body 12Aa Spherical part 12Ab Supporting surface part 12Ac Self-rotating means 14 A １４14F1 Spherical axis of rotation 14A2 to 14F2 Support arm 14Aa, 14Ba, 14Ca Support member 14Aa ′ Insertion hole 14Ab, 14Bb, 14Cb Support arm 14Ac, 14Ae Plate member 14Ad Holding plate 14Ad ′ Ball 14Af Locking clip 15 Central member 16 Means 16A~16F gear 16A1,16A2,16B1,16B2,16C1,
16C2 Bevel gear 16 'Shift lever 18 Central rotating member 141, 142 Plate 143A, 143B, 144A, 144B Connecting member 145, 146 Guide support plate 145A-145C, 146A-146C Guide long hole 151, 152, 153 Rotation support member 161 Control Plate 161A to 161C Long cam hole 161 'Shift lever

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A driving-side rotating member and a driven-side rotating member that are arranged to face each other so as to be rotatable around a first rotation center, and are driven from the driving-side rotating member to the driven-side rotating member. A driving force transmission mechanism for transmitting a force, wherein the driving-side rotating member extends in a circumferential direction around the first rotation center on a side facing the driven-side rotating member. The driven-side rotating member has a diagonally inward driven-side contact surface extending circumferentially around the first rotation center on a side facing the driving-side rotating member. The driving force transmission mechanism includes a plurality of spheres arranged around the first rotation center, and a plurality of spheres passing through the respective centers of the plurality of spheres in a plane including the first rotation center. Holding means for holding rotatably about two rotation centers; The second
Control means for changing the direction of the rotation center within a plane including the first rotation center, wherein each of the plurality of spheres is brought into contact with the drive side contact surface and the driven side contact surface. A continuously variable transmission characterized by the following. 2. The driving force transmission mechanism section includes a central rotating member arranged to be rotatable around the first rotation center with respect to the driving side rotating member and the driven side rotating member. The continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of spheres is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the central rotating member. 3. The center rotating member is rotatably held by the holding means.
3. The continuously variable transmission according to 1. 4. The continuously variable transmission according to claim 2, wherein the center rotating member is rotatably held by the driving side rotating member and the driven side rotating member. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means has a rotation axis in a direction of said second rotation center for holding said sphere, and a support arm for supporting said rotation axis. 3. The continuously variable transmission according to 1. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the angle of the rotation axis with respect to the first rotation center by rotating the support arm with respect to the plurality of spheres. 6. The continuously variable transmission according to 5. 7. A pair of guide supports for supporting the rotation body in the direction of the second rotation center for holding the spherical body and both ends of the rotation shaft so as to be movable in a radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. 5. The guide support plate according to claim 1, wherein the guide support plate is provided with a guide elongated hole extending in a radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. 6. Continuously variable transmission. 8. The rotation of the plurality of spheres by moving one end of the rotation shaft, which penetrates the elongated guide holes of the pair of guide support plates, in a radial direction with respect to the first rotation center. The continuously variable transmission according to claim 7, wherein an angle of a shaft with respect to the first rotation center is changed equally. 9. Each of the plurality of spheres is a spherical portion which is brought into contact with the driving side contact surface and the driven side contact surface, and is located closer to the first rotation center than the spherical portion.
A supporting surface portion formed rotationally symmetrically with respect to the rotation center; and a rotation shaft portion protruding from the support surface portion, wherein the holding means moves the rotation shaft portion and the support surface portion of the sphere around the second rotation center. The continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, further comprising a support member that rotatably supports the transmission. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the angle of the rotation shaft with respect to the first rotation center by rotating the support member with respect to the plurality of spheres. Item 10. A continuously variable transmission according to item 9. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means changes the direction of said second rotation center for each of said plurality of spheres through a state orthogonal to said first rotation center. The continuously variable transmission according to any one of claims 10 to 13. 12. The continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of spheres are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction around the first rotation center. 13. The stepless motor according to claim 1, wherein the driving-side contact surface and the driven-side contact surface are symmetric with respect to a plane perpendicular to the first rotation center. transmission.