Abstract
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) consisting of slider-cranks, solid cams and non-invertible mechanisms is discussed in this paper. The conventional CVTs are mainly classified as belt-types or toroidal types in conduction mechanisms. Basically, these conventional CVTs are composed of frictional conduction components. However, the proposed CVT in this paper does not have any special friction conductions. Friction force which is being occurred in the conventional CVTs gives their energy transfer efficiency more inferior. The mechanism without any friction conductions provides a high function that creates no noise, is durable, and offers high transmission efficiency. The details of the fundamental design method for the new CVT are mainly explained in this paper. Four identical slider crank mechanisms as one of four-bar crank mechanisms are placed in parallel in the CVT. The proposed CVT does not generate any slip phenomena even if high power or torque is conducted in the mechanism. In particular, we analyze the geometry of the link mechanisms and three-dimensional cams, and design the shape of a solid cam in each gear ratio. Furthermore, we estimate the required number of all units consisting of slider-cranks, and takeover time of each unit in the CVT.
