OUTPUT-SPLIT AND COMPOUND-SPLIT INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

摘要

A transmission includes two planetary units (U 1 , U 2 ) and two variators (V 1 , V 2 ), all connected together such that power can be transferred between an input (I) and an output (O) in a compound-split mode or an output-split mode. In the compound-split mode the two planetary units are joined together at two connections, creating two compound member branches and two single member branches. Except when the transmission operates at its nodes, power transfers through a mechanical path and also through a variator path located in part between the two variators, one of which functions as a motor and the other as the source of power for the motor. At the nodes all power transfers through the mechanical path and the transmission has its greatest efficiency. In the output-split mode, which exists at an output speed below that identified with the first node, one of the compound member branches is interrupted so that the two planetary units are only coupled at one of the compound member branches. In this mode some of the power transfers through the first planetary unit, and some transfers through the variators and the second planetary unit.