Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A continuously variable transmission is provided with a ball variator assembly having an array of balls, a planetary gearset coupled thereto and an arrangement of rotatable shafts with multiple gears and clutches that extend the ratio range of the variator. In some embodiments, clutches are coupled to the gear sets to enable synchronous shifting of gear modes.

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

A method of controlling a continuously variable electric drivetrain (CVED) including a high ratio traction drive transmission and at least one of a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a an output speed, determining a kinematic output speed, and determining a slip state of the high ratio traction drive transmission based on a comparison of the output speed to the kinematic output speed.

An auxiliary machine-driving device is provided for a vehicle. The auxiliary machine-driving device has a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller and a fifth roller. The first roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of an engine. The second roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of a motor/generator. The third roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of an auxiliary machine. The fourth roller is provided between the first roller and the second roller. The fifth roller that always contacts the second roller and the third roller. The actuator switches the fourth roller between a contact state with the first and second rollers and a separation state from the first and second rollers.

An auxiliary machine-driving device is provided for a vehicle. The auxiliary machine-driving device has a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller and a fifth roller. The first roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of an engine. The second roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of a motor/generator. The third roller rotates integrally with a rotary shaft of an auxiliary machine. The fourth roller is provided between the first roller and the second roller. The fifth roller that always contacts the second roller and the third roller. The actuator switches the fourth roller between a contact state with the first and second rollers and a separation state from the first and second rollers.

Disclosed here are inventive systems and methods for a powertrain of an electric vehicle (EV) having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an electric drive motor, wherein a control system is configured to control the CVT and/or the drive motor to optimize various efficiencies associated with the EV and/or its subsystems. A control system is configured to operate the EV in an economy mode. Operating in said mode, the control system simultaneously manages the CVT and the drive motor to optimize the range of the EV. The control system can be configured to manage the current provided to the drive motor, as well as adjust a transmission speed ratio of the CVT. Other modes of operation are also possible. The control system can be configured to manage the power to the drive motor and adjust the transmission speed ratio of the CVT taking into account battery voltage, throttle position, and transmission speed ratio, for example.

An electric linear actuator has a housing with an electric motor mounted on the housing. A speed reduction mechanism and ball screw mechanism converts rotational motion to axial linear motion. A nut is rotationally but axially immovably supported by bearings on the housing. A screw shaft is coaxially integrated with the drive shaft. The shaft is inserted into the nut, via helical grooves and a large number of balls. The screw shaft is non-rotationally supported on the housing but is axially movable. The housing has a first housing and a second housing arranged with their end faces abutting against each other. Joining surfaces of the end faces of the first and second housings are sealed by a curing liquid curable material.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously and infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a variator is adapted to receive a control system that cooperates with a shift nut to actuate a ratio change in an IVT. In another embodiment, a neutral lock-out mechanism is adapted to cooperate with the variator to, among other things, disengage an output shaft from a variator. Various inventive mechanical couplings, such as an output engagement mechanism, are provided to facilitate a change in the ratio of an IVT for maintaining a powered zero operating condition. In one embodiment, the output engagement mechanism selectively couples an output member of the variator to a ratio adjuster of the variator. Embodiments of a ratio adjuster cooperate with other components of the IVT to support operation and/or functionality of the IVT. Among other things, user control interfaces for an IVT are disclosed.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously and infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a variator is adapted to receive a control system that cooperates with a shift nut to actuate a ratio change in an IVT. In another embodiment, a neutral lock-out mechanism is adapted to cooperate with the variator to, among other things, disengage an output shaft from a variator. Various inventive mechanical couplings, such as an output engagement mechanism, are provided to facilitate a change in the ratio of an IVT for maintaining a powered zero operating condition. In one embodiment, the output engagement mechanism selectively couples an output member of the variator to a ratio adjuster of the variator. Embodiments of a ratio adjuster cooperate with other components of the IVT to support operation and/or functionality of the IVT. Among other things, user control interfaces for an IVT are disclosed.