(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 ra- tio 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 adjust- ment 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.