Patent ID: 6852057

Claim:
A Self Contained Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with an Integral Mechanical Torque Converter having Automatic Drive Control, comprising: a stationary housing; a primary traction and control shaft ( 7 ) having helicoidal slots; a cylindrical impeller of increasing diameter ( 10 ); a double coupling shaft ( 19 ); a lock plate ( 6 ); a central splined bar ( 21 ) fixed to the housing; an input gear ( 1 ) that receives motion from an engine; an annular gear ( 2 ) meshing with said input gear ( 1 ); a front epicyclical gear system comprising a planet gear carrier fixed to said annular gear ( 2 ); a set of three or more first planet gears ( 4 ) mounted on said planet carrier; a second annular gear ( 3 ) engaging first planet gears ( 4 ) and coupled to said cylindrical impeller ( 10 ); and, a sliding sun gear ( 5 ) fixedly coupled to said primary shaft ( 7 ) to rotate therewith, and meshing with said first planet gears ( 4 ), wherein the sun gear ( 5 ) with the primary shaft may slide between two positions, a first position in which the primary shaft is coupled to said double coupling shaft ( 19 ) and a second position in which the primary shaft is de-coupled from said double coupling shaft, and in which the sun gear is locked to said lock plate ( 6 ) and the primary shaft; a control system for controlling the sliding of said sun gear ( 5 ) comprising: centrifugal counterweights ( 8 ) for causing said sun gear ( 5 ) and primary shaft ( 7 ) to slide between said two positions; and a torque sensor comprising: a sensor spring ( 9 ) hooking said sun gear ( 5 ) to said lock plate ( 6 ), when it is at said second position; and a shifting mechanism ( 20 ) for adjusting the sensitivity of said torque sensor ( 9 ); a first unidirectional clutch ( 17 ) mounted on said cylindrical impeller ( 10 ) for locking to said housing and releasing said cylindrical impeller; a rear epicyclical gear system comprising: a system with several satellites ( 11 ) moved by said cylindrical impeller ( 10 ); a set of several rear gears ( 13 ) connected by respective shafts to said satellites ( 11 ); a set of several pivoting arms ( 32 ) that carries said rear gears and shafts; a second set of several planet gears ( 14 ) engaged to said rear gears ( 13 ); a positioning spider ( 12 ) holding said pivoting arms ( 32 ) and said second set of planet gears, wherein said positioning spider ( 12 ) may be deployed along said primary shaft ( 7 ) by interaction of a pin fixed to said spider with said helicoidal slots and said splines of said splined bar ( 21 ); a central gear ( 15 ) mounted on said positioning spider and engaging said second set of planet gears ( 14 ); and an outer shaft ( 16 ) fixed to said central gear ( 15 ); a second unidirectional clutch ( 18 ) arranged between said outer shaft ( 16 ) and said double coupling shaft ( 19 ) for engaging and disengaging said outer shaft ( 16 ) to said double coupling shaft ( 19 ), which outputs torque from said infinitely variable transmission.