Neil E. Novi Anderson

Power-Transfer Capacity of a Geared-Neutral Transmission

Geared-neutral Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) designs offer various kinematic advantages including a wide ratio range, and elimination of starting devices. However, they suffer from power re-circulation through the Continuously Variable Unit (CVU), which reduces the overall CVT efficiency and increases the CVU contact temperatures. This, in turn, limits the CVT power rating. In this study, the CVU and the CVT design parameters are optimized simultaneously to yield the highest power capacity. The CVU power capacity estimates are based on an instantaneous CVU-contact-temperature of 180°C. It is shown that a CVU design that yields the maximum power capacity is different from a design that yields the highest CVU efficiency.© 2007 ASME