Patent ID: 6729997
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A toroidal continuously variable transmission comprising:input and output disks opposed to each other and coaxially arranged on a common rotation axis; a plurality of power rollers interposed between the input and output disks under axial preload for power transmission; a plurality of trunnions rotatably supporting the respective power rollers to permit a tilting motion of each of the power rollers about a trunnion axis perpendicular to a power-roller rotation axis for ratio changing; an upper link that mechanically links upper ends of the trunnions to each other; a lower link that mechanically links lower ends of the trunnions to each other; a transmission casing; a link support structure that supports one of the upper and lower links in the transmission casing; and the link support structure comprising: (i) a stationary portion fixed to an inner periphery of the transmission casing; and (ii) an engagement portion formed at the one link and in engagement with the stationary portion to provide an engagement pair, the engagement pair restricting a fore-and-aft movement of the one link relative to the transmission casing in a fore-and-aft direction along the common rotation axis, and a freedom for the fore-and-aft movement of the one link relative to the transmission casing being relatively less than a freedom for a vertical movement of the one link relative to the transmission casing in a vertical direction along the trunnion axis and relatively less than a freedom for a left-and-right movement of the one link relative to the transmission casing in a left-and-right direction normal to both the common rotation axis and the trunnion axis.