Patent ID: 6666790
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A continuously variable transmission, comprising:an input disc having a raceway surface; an output disc having a raceway surface, with the raceway surface of said input disc being separated from the raceway surface of said output disc so as to define a toroidal clearance therebetween: at least one rotary element interposed in the toroidal clearance, the rotary element having a side face having a plurality of predetermined shape portions thereon, the predetermined shape portions increasing a surface area of said rotary element so as to increase a heat dispersion effect of said rotary element; at least one carriage rotatably supporting said rotary element; an urging member that is adapted to urge said rotary element against both said input disc and said output disc; first sensing means for sensing a velocity of said rotary element, said first sensing means being positioned to intermittently face the predetermined shape portions to enable said first sensing means to sense the velocity of said rotary element; second sensing means for sensing respective velocities of said input disc and said output disc; and means for comparing the velocity of said rotary element with the respective velocities of said input disc and said output disc, as determined at a contact area between said rotary element and said input disc and said output disc, and outputting a signal based on a compared result, whereby based on the signal, an urging force of the urging member is adjusted.