Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission

(19) TZZ¥_ _T

(11) EP 3 156 692 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 19.04.2017 Bulletin 2017/16 F16H 33/06 (2006.01) B62M 1/10 (2010.01)

(21) Application number: 15805912.1 (86) International application number: PCT/ES2015/070390 (22) Date of filing: 15.05.2015 (87) International publication number: WO 2015/189448 (17.12.2015 Gazette 2015/50)

(84) Designated Contracting States: (71) Applicant: Carames Jimenez, Jose Antonio AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB 43700 El Vendrell (Tarragona) (ES) GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (72) Inventor: Carames Jimenez, Jose Antonio Designated Extension States: 43700 El Vendrell (Tarragona) (ES) BA ME Designated Validation States: (74) Representative: Isern-Jara, Nuria MA Avda. Diagonal 463 Bis 2° 08036 Barcelona (ES) (30) Priority: 12.06.2014 ES 201430904

(54) CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

(57) The invention relates to a continuously variable automatic transmission that modifies the transmission ratio thereof by means of the accumulation and conversion of potential and kinetic energy. The transmission, which is functionally formed around an elastic potential energy accumulator device (6) with a controlled (7) output (2), has an inputsystem (5) suitable for distributing theenergy that is absorbed, and an output system (9) suitable for delivering the potential energy that has been absorbed and converting it into kinetic energy. The accumulator of elastic potential energy is formed around an elastic spiral spring, the inlet thereof being arranged so as to only allow the inflow of energy and the outlet thereof so as to control the energy delivery. EP 3 156 692 A1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 3 156 692 A1 2

Description [0008] The transmission system we are concerned with belongs to this group of more specialised transmis- Field of application sions that are of the type with continuous and variable transmission ratio, we will specifically refer to the state [0001] The present invention falls within the technical 5 of the art of this type of transmission below. sector of mechanics, within the sector of manufacturing [0009] The continuous changes in transmission ratio transmissions with transmission ratio change, also that are currently known are mainly of the following type: known as gear boxes. [0002] The object of the present invention is a device Those commonly referred to as CVT, where two ad- that serves as a movement transmission system with 10 justable opening pulleys are connected via a belt or continuously variable automatic transmission ratio chain that is adapted to the step variations thereof. change. The application of this transmission system is This type has been applied to many cars and other especially applicable to bicycles and other light transport vehicles. vehicles. [0003] Within the assembly of gear change systems, 15 [0010] Several systems where two discs, one driving the invention more specifically falls within the assembly and another driven, are connected by an assembly of of continuously variable gear change systems. Within the intermediate elements, the position adjustment of which aforementioned sector, the aim of the invention being varies the rolling radii of the connected discs and, there- filed is a transmission system that may automatically and fore, the transmission ratio thereof, the US patent No. continuously change the transmission ratio thereof, es- 20 6241636 by Miller is an example of said systems, and pecially suited for use in bicycles. there have been many different designs of these systems with different operating accessories. State of the art [0011] Epicyclic gear train systems, where the adjustment of the relative rotation of a planet and sun gear [0004] Today, within the sector for manufacturing25 assembly determines the adjustment of the transmission transport vehicles, the solution for adapting the speed ratio. and torque of the engine device used to the speed and [0012] Oscillating drive transmission systems, where torque used in the wheels or output of the vehicle uses a back-and-forth push on a lever arm, the shaft of which different transmission systems that incorporate systems is connected to a freewheel system, transforms into a with changes in the transmission or gear change ratio, 30 continuous rotation, in this system, in order to vary the in order to adapt the torque of the device to different load transmissionratio it is possible to adjustthe work distance and terrain characteristics by means of the different of the lever arm. transmission ratios. [0013] Systems where the connection between the in- [0005] On one hand, there are transmissions or gear put and output is carried out periodically, using the mo- boxes with a specific number of transmission ratios, the 35 ments of coincidence of torque requirements. actuation of which may be manual or automatic. We will [0014] The US patent No. 5334115 by Pires describes not deal with this type of transmission since they are sub- an oscillating ratchet style transmission. stantially different to the type that is proposed and there [0015] Unlike the different systems used previously, is no reason to mention some of the many patents filed the present invention focuses on a new automatic and on said systems. 40 continuous variable transmission ratio change system, [0006] On the other hand, there are transmission sys- which is completely different to the systems that have tems with continuously variable transmission ratio be- been used to date, since it is not based on ratio changes tween the input and the output. These are desirable for in pulleys or gears, or even on the rolling ratio change of more precise adaptation to different load circumstances two rotating discs connected via spheres or cones that and power availability of the system. In addition, they 45 vary their angular position, having in common with the enable maximum variation smoothness between the oscillating drive transmissions the fact that the internal margins of available transmission ratios. operation thereof is discontinuous, the system presented [0007] The aforementioned continuous gear change achieves,in a differentmanner, transmission ratio chang- systems may be used for many types of transport vehi- es in the rotation between the input and output, by means cles as an alternative to change systems with a specific 50 of the control of the accumulation and exchange of po- number of transmission or speed ratios. Continuous gear tential and kinetic energy of the system, thereby control- changes enable the transmission ratio thereof to change ling the transmission ratio between the input and output continuously and the ratio variation may be manual or of the device. automatic. Specifically for the use thereof in very light [0016] In a manner that is completely different to the transport vehicles, the need to have another type of these 55 changes known to date, the automatic and continuously continuous transmission ratio change systems, which variable transmission that is described in the present are economic, simple to use and automatic, is consid- specification, simplified in the operation thereof, uses a ered. rotation input device with the ability to transfer rotation

2 3 EP 3 156 692 A1 4 and energy to the input of an elastic potential energy of which is fastened to the input and the outer end is storage unit, which may only release energy by means fastened to a cylindrical body, the accumulation system of the rotation of the output thereof, the rotation of the is charged via the relative rotation of the input thereof same being controlled by means of a blocking and re- with respect to the output thereof, it is arranged at the lease device, which enables the elastic potential energy 5 input of a unidirectional device, which only enables en- to be released by means of rotation, in order to transform ergy charging from the input, in order to be able to release the elastic potential energy accumulated in the unit into the accumulated energy it must be released from the rotation available in the output shaft thereof that is trans- output, such that, by having control over the rotation of formed into kinetic energy. By conserving energy be- the cylindrical body of the output, the accumulated ener- tween the input and output, the device described in the 10 gy may be released in a controlled manner. present specification adjusts the ratio between the input [0022] The energy charge in the elastic accumulator rotation speed and the output of the change to the most involves an increase in the elastic tension between the optimal depending on the input torque and the output input and output, such that the tension of the system and torque requirements. torque required for the charging thereof from the input is [0017] It is desirable, especially for bicycles, to have a 15 controlled by controlling the discharge through the output continuously variable transmission available on the mar- of the control system thereof. As such, the control that ket that automatically carries out its transmission ratio operates on the output determining the output torque val- variations, thus removing the need to continuously select ues, likewise determines the necessary values in the in- the gear that is appropriate for the road, and enabling put in order to recharge the accumulator. proper driving. 20 [0023] By controlling the output of the elastic accumu- [0018] In order to cover this need, the transmission lator, we have control over the rotation torque in the out- system described in the present specification enables put sections, given the rotation torque delivered at the gear boxes of varying complexity to be manufactured, output, the rotation speed of the same is limited by the including the simplest for use in bicycles or light vehicles. braking torque opposing the rotation that is a function of The aim of the invention is a device conceived to cover 25 the charge situation of the system and the assembly of a gap in the market in the need described in the state of the inertial mass to accelerate, both rotational and linear. the art that we have described. [0024] In a preferred embodiment of the controlled output device, it uses an adjustable passage or blocking or Detailed description of the invention energy break system, which is carried out such that a 30 specific torque must be applied in order to enable the [0019] The present invention relates to a continuous passage in a specific rotation position, once the break transmission or gear change, which, by being adjustable positon in the output shaft is overcome, an available in its behaviour, automatically modifies the transmission torque is available during a specific rotation radius until ratio between the input and output thereof, the transmis- the next blocking positon is reached. The controlled out- sion has a rotational input shaft and a rotational output 35 put device enables the output rotation pulses or sections shaft linked by means of a system for accumulating and depending on the desired torque in the output. converting potential and kinetic energies, such that the [0025] Given that the energy delivery of the elastic ac- rotation of the input shaft may transmit rotation to the cumulator with controlled output are in discontinuous output shaft, with a transmission ratio that is a function sections, the output of the aforementioned accumulator of the adjustment of the system, torque and speed ap- 40 with controlled output is connected to the input of a sys- plied to the input, and the torque requirements at the tem for filtering the discontinuous sections to convert output, such that the rotation speed of the output is de- them into a continuous rotation output. To do so, the out- termined by the transmission ratio that automatically de- put of the accumulator is connected to the filter system termines at that moment the status of the transmission by means of a unidirectional device, such that it may system. 45 transmit the rotation sections, enabling the filter system [0020] Essentially, when the rotational movement is re- to rotate in the rotation direction, performing more revo- ceived from the input shaft of the transmission, rotation lutions than the output of the accumulator. The filter sys- is transmitted to the input of an energy accumulation system has a fast energy accumulator, which by absorbing tem that accumulates energy when rotation is induced in the rotation pulses originating from the accumulator with the input thereof and may only release the accumulated 50 controlled output at the input thereof, continuously re- energy from the output thereof. The system has means leases the rotation at its output, this output having an for controlling the rotation of the output of the accumula- inertial mass associated with the output rotation of the tor, such that when the actuation of this output is control- transmission, which contributes to making the steps be- led, the released energy and the characteristics thereof tween drive sections smoother. are controlled. 55 [0026] In a preferred embodiment, the filtration system [0021] The energy accumulation system used in a pre- uses, at the input thereof, a freewheel device connected ferred embodiment, is an elastic potential energy accu- to the input of a fast-charging elastic accumulator such mulation system that uses a spiral spring, the inner end as a spiral spring, which has its output connected to an

3 5 EP 3 156 692 A1 6 inertia flywheel which is in turn integrally connected to Figure 6 is a perspective view of a rotation control the output of the transmission. device (7) of the output of the accumulator, where [0027] A description of the drawings included in the one may see the ratchet (15) that is fastened in the present specification is carried out below. tubular cylindrical output body (14) of the accumu- 5 lator, the blocking wheel (16) with its mechanisms Description of the drawings to operate as a blocking and passage element, which are mounted on the support disc (17) of said mech- [0028] anisms, the effect of the blocking wheel may be adjusted by means of more or less pressure, caused Figure 1 is a flowchart in which the internal and func- 10 therein by the pressure spring (18), pressed by the tional composition of the transmission, object of the lever (19), the pressure of which on the aforemen- present specification, is represented. tioned spring (18) may be controlled by means of the Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embod- rotation of the adjustment disc (20) which is eccen- iment of a transmission of the functional type de- trically mounted, the pressure adjustment disc is rig- scribed, in which one may see the cogwheel that is 15 idly fastened to the support tube (21), the angular the rotational movement (1) input element, the ele- position of which may be adjusted from the adjustment that delivers the rotation output to the outside ment control (8). The support disc (17) is rigidly fas- (2), which is a tubular cylindrical body that covers tened to the fixed shaft (4) that serves as a support the mechanisms of the transmission, the adjustment base for the transmission. control (8) of the output control system of the accu- 20 Figure 7 is a front view with a cross-sectional view mulator and the fixed shaft (4) that serves as a base of the adaptation system of the output of the trans- and support for placing the different groups of mech- mission (9) where one may see that this system with anisms. impulse filtering has an input piece that is a discoid Figure 3 is an exploded view of the aforementioned body with a tubular protuberance in the inner portion transmission, in which one may see the input adaptor 25 (22) thereof, this input piece is connected by the out- system of the transmission (5), the rotation output er portion thereof to the controlled output of the ac- element to the outside of the transmission (2), the cumulator (13) and by the inner portion thereof from energy accumulator (6), where a rotation control de- the tubular protuberance, with a freewheel (23), vice (7) of the output of the aforementioned accumu- which transmits the rotation pulses to the inside of latoris mounted,the adjustmentcontrol (8) by means 30 the spiral spring (24) which carries out the function of which it is possible to adjust the actuation of the of fast-charging elastic accumulator, with the aim of rotation control device, and lastly, one may see the transmitting absorbed pulsing energy, this spiral output system with impulse filtering (9), which is con- spring is fastened by the outer portion thereof to the nected by means of the cylindrical body that forms inertia flywheel (25) that is in turn fastened to the the output (2), with the input adaptor system of the 35 external output of the transmission (2). transmission (5). Figure 8 is a perspective view of the input adaptor Figure 4 is a perspective view of the elastic potential systemof the transmission (5) and the rotation output energy accumulation device (6), where one may see element to the outside (2) of the transmission, where the rotation input (11) of the accumulator, linked by one may see that the output adaptor system is means of a freewheel (12) to the fixed carrier shaft 40 formed by a discoid-shaped body with a tubular pro- (4), such that the freewheel only enables rotation in tuberance in the area closest to the central shaft, the direction for accumulating elastic energy in the integrated on this protuberance there is a cogwheel accumulator, the elastic accumulator is a spiral (1) from where the rotation input from the outside spring (13) with the inner end fastened to the rotation movement is provided, this body is connected input (11) and the outer end fastened to the output 45 through the inside by means of a freewheel (26) to of the accumulator, the output element (14) of the the input shaft of the energy accumulator with con- elastic accumulator is a tubular cylindrical body that trolled output, additionally being connected by the covers the system and which is linked to the rotation outside through another freewheel (27), by means control system thereof through the means that said of the tubular cylindrical body for connecting (28) to control system has for blocking or enabling the rota- 50 the external output of the transmission (2). tion of said output body. Figure 5 is front view of the accumulator of elastic [0029] The drawings having been described and the potential energy, in this view the same elements as basic operation of the continuously variable transmission in figure 4 may also be seen, and the dashed lines system having been sufficiently explained, the preferred show the hidden lines of the pieces that form the55 embodiment of the invention shall be described bellow output control device that blocks or enables the ro- as an example. tation of the tubular cylindrical output body (14) of the accumulator system with controlled output.

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Embodiment of the invention pressed by the eccentrically mounted disc (20), this disc is rigidly fastened to the tube (21) and the angular position [0030] Anon-limiting, preferredembodiment ofa trans- of both may be modified by rotating them from the ad- mission system, such as the one described, carried out justment lever (8); the entire system is mounted on a for its use in bicycles, is described below. 5 support disc (17) that is rigidly fastened to the fixed shaft [0031] Based on a system like the one described as (4), such that the rotation control device (7) may block an essential part of the composition, several different the rotation of the output of the energy accumulator by transmissions may be carried out. In particular, the con- means of the blocking wheel (16). tinuously variable transmission that is described as an [0037] The rotation output of the energy accumulator example is conceived for its specialised application in 10 with the torque determined by the adjustment of the ro- different types of bicycle. tation control device, is caused by discontinuous sec- [0032] A transmission like the one described is carried tions, therefore these sections must be converted into out that is designed and sized for its use in a bicycle such continuous rotation at the output, and to do so, a unidi- that the output of the transmission may support the driv- rectional device is used, which in the case of this pre- ing wheel of the bicycle, the fixed shaft (4) is held in the 15 ferred embodiment, is not only a freewheel, but rather it fastening fork, the torque adjustment is carried out by is an output system with impulse filtering. accessing the adjustment control (8) by means of a cable [0038] The output system with impulse filtering (9) is from the tip of the fork, and additionally, at the movement connected to the output of the energy accumulator, the input (1), a cogwheel or sprocket may be adapted de- connection with the impulse output is carried out by pending on whether the driving force is transmitted by 20 means of an adaptor connection piece (22), this piece is belt or chain. a disc that has a tubular cylindrical protuberance at the [0033] The preferred embodiment applied for its use centre thereof, and is connected by the outer portion in bicycles uses an input sub-assembly that transmits the thereof via ratchets or another means to the tube of the rotation through two channels, the first directly to the out- output of the accumulator, and by the tubular cylindrical put of the transmission through the freewheel (27), and 25 protuberance it is connected to the inner portion of a free- the second to the input of the energy accumulator with wheel device (23), the outer portion of which is connected controlled output through the freewheel (26). Initially, to the input of a fast-charging elastic accumulator (24), when driving force is applied in the input (1), the same which in this case is a spiral spring, the other end of the rotation is caused in the output (2), at the same time as fast-charging accumulator, i.e. the outer portion of the causing the rotation of the input of the accumulator, the 30 spiral spring, being connected to an inertia flywheel (25), gradual charging thereof by accumulation of energy is which contributes to the filtering of output pulses. The caused. inertia flywheel is rigidly connected, forming part thereof, [0034] By transmitting the rotation at the rotation input to the output of the transmission that is the tubular, cy- (11) of the accumulator, the spring (13) is wound and the lindrical-shaped body (2), from where the rotation output elastic tension in the same is increased by the accumu- 35 of the transmission is arranged. lation of energy, given that the rotation input of the accu- [0039] In this preferred embodiment the input adaptor mulator (11) is connected by means of a freewheel (12) system of the transmission (5), is formed of a mechanical to the fixed shaft (4), this input may only rotate in one assembly formed around a discoid-shaped body with a direction and therefore it is only possible to charge the tubular cylindrical protuberance in the centre thereof, accumulator from the same. 40 where a cogwheel is integrated, the function of which is [0035] The output of the accumulator (14) that is a tu- the rotation input; in the body there is a freewheel device bular cylindrical body may release energy by rotating in arranged inside the cylindrical protuberance, through this the direction that the spring (13) forces it to, the rotation freewheel it is connected to the input of the energy ac- of this output body (14) is controlled by the rotation control cumulator, additionally the body we are concerned with device (7) of the output of the accumulator (6) is, in this 45 is connected by the outer perimeter of the disc thereof preferred embodiment, an adjustable pressure blocking through another freewheel (27), fitted into the tubular system, which enables the rotation when the torque of body (28), with the cylindrical tubular body of external the output of the accumulator reaches the torque value output of the transmission (2). that has been determined by means of adjusting the rotation control device. 50 [0036] The rotation control device is made up of a Claims blocking wheel (16), which blocks the rotation of the output of the accumulator (14), blocking the passage of the 1. A continuously variable automatic transmission ratchet (15) that is fastened on the output body of the comprising: accumulator, in order to enable the blocking of the ratchet 55 (15) through the blocking wheel (16), this wheel is fas- an input shaft (1) arranged so as to receive ro- tened to an arm pressed by a spring (18), the pressure tational movement and input torque from a of which is adjusted from the lever (19), which is in turn movement source, a mechanical system that

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converts rotational movement and input torque accumulator (11) such that it is only possible to rotate into a rotational movement with an output torque the input shaft of the accumulator in the energy that is adapted to the load requirements in each charging direction, the outer portion of the spiral circumstance, an external output shaft (2) of the spring (13) being connected to the rotation output transmission integrated in a mechanical sub-as- 5 body of this system (14) and the rotation capacity of sembly (9), configured to deliver rotational this output body being controlled from a device en- movement and the torque adapted to the forces abling the rotation or blocking thereof (7). required in this output, characterised in that: 4. The continuously variable and automatic transmis- The input shaft of the transmission (1) is 10 sion according to preceding claims characterised connected to the input of at least one me- in that: the blocking device (7) is configured such chanical subsystem for energy accumula- that, by means of a rotating wheel (16) that is held tion (6) with controlled output by a control to the shaft thereof, on a support arm that may rotate device (7), this subsystem having its own in turn on its shaft enabling the wheel to move back- input and output, the subsystem transforms 15 wards,such thatthe trajectory ofthe rotational move- the rotational movement of the input (11) ment of a ratchet (15) fastened on the output body, thereof into elastic potential energy con- may be blocked or enabled; the support arm that tained in the inside (13) thereof and may supports the blocking wheel is pressed from another deliver the accumulated energy by means auxiliary arm (19) by means of a pressure spring (18) of the rotation of the output (14) thereof, the 20 contained between both arms, the auxiliary arm is rotation of the output thereof being control- pressed by means of a disc (20) mounted eccentri- led by a control system (7), the output shaft cally around the support shaft (4), the eccentric disc of the energy accumulation subsystem with (20) is held at one end of a tube (21) mounted coax- controlled output is connected to the input ially on the support shaft (4) arranged with free ro- of a mechanical filtering subsystem and out- 25 tation limited such that by rotating this tube by means put of the transmission, this subsystem hav- of a control (8) the eccentric disc (20) is rotated, thus ing its own input and output, configured enabling the pressure of the spring and the blocking such that it has, connected to its own input wheel to be adjusted. (22), at least one freewheel device (23) and associated with its own output (25) at least 30 5. The continuously variable and automatic transmis- one connection with an inertial mass that sion according to preceding claims characterised accumulates kinetic energy; the output of in that: the mechanical filtering and output subsys- the subsystem (25) is connected to the out- tem comprises a discoid-shaped input body (22) with put shaft (2) of the transmission. a tubular cylindrical protuberance that is held by the 35 discoidal portion thereof to the output (14) of the en- 2. The continuously variable and automatic transmis- ergy accumulation system with controlled output and sion according to claim 1, characterised in that : the that has, mounted coaxially from the inside to the input shaft arranged to receive input rotation and outside on thetubular cylindrical protuberance there- torque from a driving source is coupled to the input of, a freewheel device (23), a spiral spring (24) and of the energy conversion system by means of a free- 40 an inertia flywheel (25) that is connected to the output wheel device housed in the inner portion thereof, in body of the transmission, the spiral spring being con- order to transmit the rotational movement only in the nected by the lower portion thereof by means of a charging direction of the energy accumulation sys- fastening ring to the freewheel device, and by the tem, the input shaft is connected through the outer outer portion thereof to the inertia flywheel (25). portion thereof to the output element of the transmis- 45 sion through another freewheel device to transmit movement only in the rotation direction of the output.

3. The continuously variable and automatic transmission according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in 50 that: the mechanical energy accumulation system is configured such that, coaxially mounted on a fixed support shaft (4), from inside to outside successively mounted, is a freewheel device mounted on the fixed support shaft (4), on this freewheel device (12) the 55 input shaft of the energy accumulator is arranged, configured by means of a spiral spring (13), the inner portion of which is connected to the input shaft of the

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 6241636 B, Miller [0010] • US 5334115 A, Pires [0014]