Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission (CVT), also known as a shiftless transmission, stepless transmission, pulley transmission, or, in case of motorcycles, a "twist-and-go", is an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios. The flexibility of a CVT with suitable control may allow the input shaft to maintain a constant angular velocity even as the output speed varies.
A belt-driven design offers approximately 88% efficiency,[1] which, while lower than that of a manual transmission, can be offset by lower production cost and by enabling the engine to run at its most efficient speed for a range of output speeds. When power is more important than economy, the ratio of the CVT can be changed to allow the engine to turn at the RPM at which it produces greatest power. This is typically higher than the RPM that achieves peak efficiency. In low-mass low-torque applications (such as motor scooters) a belt-driven CVT also offers ease of use and mechanical simplicity.
A CVT does not strictly require the presence of a clutch. Nevertheless, in some vehicles (e.g. motorcycles), a centrifugal clutch is added[2] to facilitate a "neutral" stance, which is useful when idling or manually reversing into a parking space.
Uses
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/GearBoxRotRotVar.gif)
Motorized vehicles
Simple rubber belt (non-stretching fixed circumference manufactured using various highly durable and flexible materials) CVTs are commonly used in small motorized vehicles, where their mechanical simplicity and ease of use outweigh their comparative inefficiency. Nearly all snowmobiles, utility vehicles, golf carts and motor scooters use CVTs, typically the rubber belt or variable pulley variety.
CVTs, along with several other electronic systems and driver aids were prohibited from Formula 1 in 1994 due to concerns over escalating research and development costs, and maintaining a specific level of driver involvement with the vehicles.[3]
More recently,[when?], CVT systems have been developed for go-karts and have proven to increase performance and engine life expectancy.
Some vehicles that offer CVT are:
- The Chrysler Pacifica hybrid
- The Datsun Go CVT and Datsun GO+ CVT
- The Ford C-MAX hybrid
- The Toyota Corolla, Allion, Premio, Avalon, Mark X, Camry, and Prius
- The Honda Insight, Fit, CR-Z hybrid, CR-V, Capa, Civic, and Accord
- The Dodge Caliber
- The Mitsubishi Lancer, Mirage, Outlander, RVR/ASX/Outlander Sport
- The Scion iQ,
- The Nissan Tiida/Versa (SL, SV, and Note S Plus or higher models), Cube, Juke, Sentra, Altima, Maxima, 2013 1.2 Note, Rogue, X-Trail, Murano, Pathfinder, Sunny and the non-Mexican Micra
- The Jeep Patriot and Compass
- The Suzuki SX4, S-Cross, Baleno and Suzuki Kizashi
- The Subaru Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback and Crosstrek
- The Tomcar range of off-road vehicles
CVTs should be distinguished from power-sharing transmissions (PSTs), as used in newer hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, Highlander and Camry, the Nissan Altima, and newer-model Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs. CVT technology uses only one input from a prime mover and delivers variable output speeds and torque, whereas PST technology uses two prime mover inputs and varies the ratio of their contributions to output speed and power. These transmissions are fundamentally different.
Farm equipment, namely harvester combines, used variable belt drives as early as the 1950s, as well. Many small tractors and self-propelled mowers for home and garden also use simple rubber belt CVT. Hydrostatic systems are more common on the larger units—the walk-behind self-propelled mowers are of the slipping belt variety.
Ratcheting CVT converting rotary motion to oscillating motion and back to rotary motion using roller clutches are well adapted to reciprocating engines when the oscillating movement is synchronized with that of the pistons. This solution could have a bright future because such ratcheting CVT are also IVT (providing the clutch function), and have a very high energy efficiency. They could help automakers comply with the future emission standards, while also improving the reciprocating engines' performance.
Downsizing electric engines
Instead of being dimensioned according to the maximum torque (e.g. that required for starting, or in case of momentary mechanical overload), the motors using this type of CVT may be dimensioned by matching the maximum power with the maximum desired speed (that of a vehicle by example). Such CVT is used only at startup or in case of mechanical overload, and may be disconnected most of the time, the engine transferring the torque directly to the output. New concepts adapting the transmission ratio to the resistant torque and centrifugal clutches may be used to make these changes automatic.
Bicycles
Bicycles with CVT gearing have had limited commercial success, and can give comparable shifting to an eight-speed cycle.[4] Automatic CVTs on cycles also exist and can make riding uphill more comfortable.[5]
Medium and high power transfers
Hydrostatic CVTs are common in small to medium-sized agricultural and earthmoving equipment. As the engines in these machines are typically run at constant power settings to provide hydraulic power or to power machinery, losses in mechanical efficiency are offset by enhanced operational efficiency, such as reduced forward-reverse shuttle times in earthmoving operations. Transmission output is varied to control both travel speed and direction. This is particularly beneficial in equipment designed to pivot or skid steer through differential power application as the required differential steering action can easily be supplied by independent CVTs, allowing steering to be accomplished without braking losses or loss of tractive effort and allowing the machine to pivot in place. In mowing or harvesting operations a CVT allows the forward speed of the tractor or combine harvester to be adjusted independently of the engine speed. This allows the operator to slow or accelerate as needed to accommodate variations in thickness of the crop.
Power generating systems
CVTs have been used in aircraft electrical power generating systems since the 1950s and in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Formula 500 race cars since the early 1970s.
Some drill presses and milling machines contain a pulley-based CVT system where the output shaft has a pair of manually adjustable conical pulley halves through which a wide drive belt from the motor loops. The pulley on the motor, however, is usually fixed in diameter, or may have a series of given-diameter steps to allow a selection of speed ranges. A handwheel on the drill press, marked with a scale corresponding to the desired machine speed, is mounted to a reduction gearing system for the operator to precisely control the width of the gap between the pulley halves. This gap width thus adjusts the speed ratio between the motor's fixed pulley and the output shaft's variable pulley, changing speed of the chuck. A tensioner pulley is implemented in the belt transmission to take up or release the slack in the belt as the speed is altered. In most cases, the speed must be changed with the motor running.
Doubly-fed induction generators are usually coupled with multi-stage gearboxes to increase the rotational speed. These gearboxes might be replaced by fully CVT in the future, but only fully geared one because they are the only ones providing a sufficient mechanical efficiency.[6]
A CVT and flywheel may be inserted between an energy source (e.g. a wind turbine) and the electricity generator. When the energy source is sufficient, the generator is connected directly to the CVT which serves to regulate its speed of rotation. When it is too low, the generator is disconnected and the energy stored in the flywheel. It is only when the speed of the flywheel is sufficient that the kinetic energy is converted into electricity, intermittently, but always at the optimal speed of the generator.
Winches and hoists
It's also an application of CVTs, especially for those adapting the transmission ratio to the resistant torque.
Types
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Variable-diameter pulley (VDP) or Reeves drive
In this most common CVT system,[7] there are two V-belt pulleys that are split perpendicular to their axes of rotation, with a V-belt running between them. The drive ratio is changed by moving the two sheaves of one pulley closer together and the two sheaves of the other pulley farther apart. The V-shaped cross section of the belt causes it to ride higher on one pulley and lower on the other. This changes the effective diameters of both pulleys, which changes the overall drive ratio. As the distance between the pulleys and the length of the belt does not change, both pulleys must be adjusted (one bigger, the other smaller) simultaneously in order to maintain the proper amount of tension on the belt. Simple CVTs combining a centrifugal drive pulley with a spring loaded driven pulley often use belt tension to effect the conforming adjustments in the driven pulley. The V-belt needs to be very stiff in the pulley's axial direction in order to make only short radial movements while sliding in and out of the pulleys. The Chinese gy6-type scooter uses this type of CVT drive system.
Steel reinforced v-belts are sufficient for low-mass low-torque applications like utility vehicles and snowmobiles but higher mass and torque applications such as automobiles require a chain. Each element of the chain must have conical sides that fit the pulley when the belt is running on the outermost radius. As the chain moves into the pulleys the contact area gets smaller. As the contact area is proportional to the number of elements, chain belts require lots of very small elements. The shape of the elements is governed by the static of a column. The pulley-radial thickness of the belt is a compromise between maximum gear ratio and torque. For the same reason the axis between the pulleys is as thin as possible. In a chain-based CVT a film of lubricant is applied to the pulleys. It needs to be thick enough so that the pulley and the chain never touch and it must be thin in order not to waste power when each element dives into the lubrication film. Additionally, the chain elements stabilize about 12 steel bands. Each band is thin enough so that it bends easily. If bending, it has a perfect conical surface on its side. In the stack of bands each band corresponds to a slightly different drive ratio, and thus they slide over each other and need oil between them. Also the outer bands slide through the stabilizing chain, while the center band can be used as the chain linkage.[note 1]
Push-Belt
While some CVTs transmit torque only through the tension of the belt or chain, a push-belt CVT transmits torque both through "pulling" belt ring tension and also "pushing" link element compression.[8][9][10]
Toroidal or roller-based (Extroid)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Extroid_CVT.jpg/220px-Extroid_CVT.jpg)
Toroidal CVTs are made up of discs and rollers that transmit power between the discs. The discs can be pictured as two almost conical parts, point to point, with the sides dished such that the two parts could fill the central hole of a torus. One disc is the input, and the other is the output. Between the discs are rollers which vary the ratio and which transfer power from one side to the other. When the roller's axis is perpendicular to the axis of the near-conical parts, it contacts the near-conical parts at same-diameter locations and thus gives a 1:1 drive ratio. The roller can be moved along the axis of the near-conical parts, changing angle as needed to maintain contact. This will cause the roller to contact the near-conical parts at varying and distinct diameters, giving a drive ratio of something other than 1:1. Systems may be partial or full toroidal. Full toroidal systems are the most efficient design while partial toroidals may still require a torque converter, and hence lose efficiency.
Some toroidal systems like the torotrak, are also infinitely variable, and the direction of thrust can be reversed within the CVT.[11]
Diagrams:
Examples:
- Nissan Extroid CVT (pdf on Nissan-Global site)
Magnetic or mCVT
A magnetic continuous variable transmission system was developed at the University of Sheffield in 2006 and later commercialized.[12] mCVT is a variable magnetic transmission which gives an electrically controllable gear ratio. It can act as a power split device and can match a fixed input speed from a prime-mover to a variable load by importing/exporting electrical power through a variator path. The mCVT is of particular interest as a highly efficient power-split device for blended parallel hybrid vehicles, but also has potential applications in renewable energy, marine propulsion and industrial drive sectors.
Infinitely variable transmission (IVT)
A subset of CVT designs are called infinitely variable transmissions (IVT or IVTs), in which the range of ratios of output shaft speed to input shaft speed includes a zero ratio that can be continuously approached from a defined "higher" ratio. A zero output speed (low gear) with a finite input speed implies an infinite input-to-output speed ratio, which can be continuously approached from a given finite input value with an IVT. Low gears are a reference to low ratios of output speed to input speed. This low ratio is taken to the extreme with IVTs, resulting in a "neutral", or non-driving "low" gear limit, in which the output speed is zero. Unlike neutral in a normal automotive transmission, IVT output rotation may be prevented because the back-driving (reverse IVT operation) ratio may be infinite, resulting in impossibly high backdriving torque; in a ratcheting IVT, however, the output may freely rotate in the forward direction.
Friction
In the early decades of the 20th century, several tractors and small locomotives were built with friction-disk transmissions with an output disk rolling on the face of the input disk. For disks of identical diameter, the effective gear ratio could be varied from 1:1 when the point of contact was at the perimeter of the input disk, to infinity when the point of contact was at the center, to -1:1 when the point of contact was at the opposite extreme. The transmission on early Plymouth locomotives worked this way, while on tractors using friction disks, the range of reverse speeds was typically limited.[13]
Epicyclic gearing
Many IVTs result from the combination of a CVT with a planetary gear system which enforces an IVT output shaft rotation speed which is equal to the difference between two other speeds within the IVT. This IVT configuration uses its CVT as a continuously variable regulator (CVR) of the rotation speed of any one of the three rotators of the planetary gear system (PGS). If two of the PGS rotator speeds are the input and output of the CVR, there is a setting of the CVR that results in the IVT output speed of zero. The maximum output/input ratio can be chosen from infinite practical possibilities through selection of additional input or output gear, pulley or sprocket sizes without affecting the zero output or the continuity of the whole system. The IVT is always engaged, even during its zero output adjustment.
IVTs can in some implementations offer better efficiency in the preferred range of operation when compared to other CVTs because most of the power flows through the planetary gear system and not the controlling CVR. Torque transmission capability can also be increased. Staging power splits is also possible for further increase in efficiency, torque transmission capability and better maintenance of efficiency over a wide gear ratio range.
Examples
Hydristor
An example of a true IVT is the Hydristor because the front unit connected to the engine can displace from zero to 27 cubic inches (440 cm3) per revolution forward and zero to −10 cubic inches (−160 cm3) per revolution reverse. The rear unit is capable of zero to 75 cubic inches (1,230 cm3) per revolution. However, whether this design enters production remains to be seen. Another example of a true IVT that has been put into recent production[14] and which continues under commercial development[15] is that of Torotrak.
Ratcheting
The ratcheting CVT is a transmission that relies on static friction and is based on a set of elements that successively become engaged and then disengaged between the driving system and the driven system, often using oscillating or indexing motion in conjunction with one-way clutches or ratchets that rectify and sum only "forward" motion. The transmission ratio is adjusted by changing linkage geometry within the oscillating elements, so that the summed maximum linkage speed is adjusted, even when the average linkage speed remains constant. Power is transferred from input to output only when the clutch or ratchet is engaged, and therefore when it is locked into a static friction mode where the driving & driven rotating surfaces momentarily rotate together without slippage.
One type of ratcheting CVT that is not dependent on friction uses a scotch yoke mechanism to convert rotation to linear oscillation. The magnitude of oscillation, sometimes called "stroke", depends on the distance of the crank pin in the scotch yoke mechanism from the axis of rotation. The stroke is altered by altering the distance of the crank pin from the axis of rotation. This linear oscillation is converted back to rocking motion using a rack and pinion. This rocking motion is rectified to rotation using either computer controlled clutch, sprag clutch or one-way bearing. The main advantage of this type of CVT is that it is not dependent on friction to transmit power. One drawback here is that the input to output ratio is sinusoidal and not constant. However, patented designs exist to overcome this drawback by altering the instantaneous rotational speed of the scotch yoke mechanism using non-circular gears. An example of a non-friction-dependent ratcheting CVT having a constant input to output ratio, is patent protected under U.S. patent 9970520B2.
These CVTs can transfer substantial torque, because their static friction actually increases relative to torque throughput, so slippage is impossible in properly designed systems. Efficiency is generally high, because most of the dynamic friction is caused by very slight transitional clutch speed changes. The drawback to ratcheting CVTs is vibration caused by the successive transition in speed required to accelerate the element, which must supplant the previously operating and decelerating, power transmitting element.
Ratcheting CVTs are distinguished from VDPs and roller-based CVTs by being static friction-based devices, as opposed to being dynamic friction-based devices that waste significant energy through slippage of twisting surfaces. An example of a ratcheting CVT is one prototyped as a bicycle transmission protected under U.S. patent 5,516,132 in which strong pedalling torque causes this mechanism to react against the spring, moving the ring gear/chainwheel assembly toward a concentric, lower gear position. When the pedaling torque relaxes to lower levels, the transmission self-adjusts toward higher gears, accompanied by an increase in transmission vibration.
The ratcheting IVT dates back to before the 1930s; the original design converts rotary motion to oscillating motion and back to rotary motion using roller clutches.[16] The stroke of the intermediate oscillations is adjustable, varying the output speed of the shaft. The fundamental limitation is that when the torque transfers between the separate oscillatory paths the change in deflection causes high vibration at higher torques. The original design is still manufactured today, and an example and animation of this IVT can be found here.[17] Paul B. Pires created a more compact (radially symmetric) variation that employs a ratchet mechanism instead of roller clutches, so it does not have to rely on friction to drive the output. An article and sketch of this variation can be found here [18]
Hydrostatic
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Type10MBT.jpg/220px-Type10MBT.jpg)
Hydrostatic transmissions use a variable displacement pump and a hydraulic motor. All power is transmitted by hydraulic fluid. These types can generally transmit more torque, but can be sensitive to contamination. Some designs are also very expensive. However, they have the advantage that the hydraulic motor can be mounted directly to the wheel hub, allowing a more flexible suspension system and eliminating efficiency losses from friction in the drive shaft and differential components. This type of transmission is relatively easy to use because all forward and reverse speeds can be accessed using a single lever.
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle (IHT) uses a single housing for both hydraulic elements and gear-reducing elements. This type of transmission has been effectively applied to a variety of inexpensive and expensive versions of ridden lawn mowers and garden tractors.
One class of riding lawn mower is the zero-turn mower, which has traditionally been powered with wheel hub mounted hydraulic motors driven by continuously variable pumps. This design tends to be more expensive than alternatives.
Some heavy equipment may also be propelled by a hydrostatic transmission; e.g. agricultural machinery including foragers, combines, and some tractors. A variety of heavy earth-moving equipment, e.g. compact and small wheel loaders, track type loaders and crawler tractors, skid-steered loaders and road rollers use hydrostatic transmission. Hydrostatic CVTs are usually not used for extended duration high torque applications because of the heat that is generated by the flowing oil, which may require a substantial oil cooler.
The Honda DN-01 motorcycle is the first road-going consumer vehicle with hydrostatic drive that employs a variable displacement axial piston pump with a variable-angle swashplate.
AGCO Corporation has employed a hydrostatic CVT in agricultural equipment. The transmission splits power between hydrostatic and mechanical transfer to the output shaft via a planetary gear in the forward direction of travel. In reverse the power transfer is fully hydrostatic.[19]
Cone
A cone CVT varies the effective gear ratio using one or more conical rollers. The simplest type of cone CVT, the single-cone version, uses a wheel that moves along the slope of the cone, creating the variation between the narrow and wide diameters of the cone.
The more-sophisticated twin cone mesh system is also a type of cone CVT.[20][21]
In a CVT with oscillating cones, the torque is transmitted via friction from a variable number of cones (according to the torque to be transmitted) to a central, barrel-shaped hub. The side surface of the hub is convex with a specific radius of curvature which is smaller than the concavity radius of the cones. In this way, there will be only one (theoretical) contact point between each cone and the hub at any time.
A new CVT using this technology, the Warko, was presented in Berlin during the 6th International CTI Symposium of Innovative Automotive Transmissions, on 3–7 December 2007.
A particular characteristic of the Warko is the absence of a clutch: the engine is always connected to the wheels, and the rear drive is obtained by means of an epicyclic system in output.[22] This system, named “power split”,[23] allows the engine to have a "neutral gear": when the engine turns (connected to the sun gear of the epicyclic system), the variator (i.e., the planetary gears) will compensate for the engine rotation, so the outer ring gear (which provides output) remains stationary.
Radial roller
The working principle of this CVT is similar to that of conventional oil pumps, but, instead of pumping oil, common steel rollers are compressed.[24]
The motion transmission between rollers and rotors is assisted by an adapted traction fluid, which ensures the proper friction between the surfaces and slows down wearing thereof. Unlike other systems, the radial rollers do not show a tangential speed variation (delta) along the contact lines on the rotors. From this, a greater mechanical efficiency and working life are claimed.[25]
Planetary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Infinitely_Variable_Transmission_with_rigid_friction_members_%28shaped_as_double_cones%29_in_planet_configuration.jpg/220px-Infinitely_Variable_Transmission_with_rigid_friction_members_%28shaped_as_double_cones%29_in_planet_configuration.jpg)
In a planetary CVT, the gear ratio is shifted by tilting the axes of spheres in a continuous fashion, to provide different contact radii, which in turn drive input and output discs. The system can have multiple "planets" to transfer torque through multiple fluid patches. One commercial implementation is the NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission.
History
Leonardo da Vinci, in 1490, conceptualized a stepless continuously variable transmission.[dubious – discuss] Milton Reeves invented a variable-speed transmission for saw milling in 1879, which he applied to his first car in 1896.[27]
In 1910, Zenith Motorcycles built a V-twin engined motorcycle with the Gradua-Gear, which was a CVT. In 1912, the British motorcycle manufacturer Rudge-Whitworth built the Rudge Multigear. The Multi was a much improved version of Zenith's Gradua-Gear.
Between 1913 and 1923 Spanish manufacturer David produced cyclecars with CVT.[28]
An early application of CVT was in the British Clyno car, introduced in 1923.
In 1926, George Constantinesco produced the Constantinesco car with a smooth, efficient, inertial masses CVT, which he had invented in 1923, built into the two-cylinder engine.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Charles H. Miner of Denver, CO made significant developments in creating a CVT by inventing the "Variable Speed Clutch Pulley". He filed and was granted multiple US patents for his CVT system using steel balls and centrifugal force to manipulate the moveable side of the power end of his V-belt clutch. He formed a manufacturing company (Miner Pulley) in Denver and built clutch pulleys until he sold the company to Warner Clutch due to health reasons. See US Patent US2974544 A for diagrams and details.
A CVT, called Variomatic, was designed and built by Hub van Doorne, co-founder of Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek (DAF), in the late 1950s, specifically to produce an automatic transmission for a small, affordable car. The first DAF car using van Doorne's CVT, the DAF 600, was produced in 1958.[29] Van Doorne's patents were later transferred to a company called VDT (Van Doorne Transmissie B.V.) when the passenger car division was sold to Volvo in 1975; its CVT was used in the Volvo 340. In 1995, VDT was acquired by Robert Bosch GmbH.
For the 1965 model year, Wheel Horse Products, Inc., of South Bend, Indiana, USA, introduced the first garden tractors equipped with an hydraulic CVT. The models 875 and 1075 included an Eaton-manufactured variable-displacement swash-plate pump and fixed-displacement gear-type hydraulic motor combined into a single compact package, which attached directly to the patented Wheel Horse Unidrive™ transaxle. Reverse was produced by reversing the flow of the pump through over-centering of the swash plate. Acceleration was limited and smoothed through use of pressure accumulator and relief valves located between the pump and motor, to prevent the sudden changes in speed possible with a direct hydraulic coupling. Subsequent versions included fixed swash plate motors, and ball pumps and were sourced from both Eaton and Sundstrand Corp.
Many snowmobiles use a rubber belt CVT. In 1974, Rokon offered a motorcycle with a rubber belt CVT.
CVTs are used in some all terrain vehicles. The first ATV equipped with CVT was Polaris's Trail Boss in 1985.
In February 1987, Subaru released the Justy in Tokyo with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT)[citation needed] developed by Fuji Heavy Industries which owns Subaru, and Van Doorne's Transmissie in The Netherlands. One and a half years later in November 1988, Subaru also brought out the Justy 4WD ECVT, a Justy with part-time 4WD and the ECVT gearbox. Production was limited to 500 units per month as Van Doorne's could only produce this many steel belts for them. In June, supplies increased to 3,000 per month and Subaru responded by installing the extra volume into transmissions for their Rex microcar.[30] In 1989 the Justy became the first production car in the U.S. to offer CVT technology. While the Justy saw only limited success, Subaru continues to use CVT in its kei cars to this day,[when?] while also supplying it to other manufacturers.[31] Subaru offers CVT (Lineartronic) on 2014 Outback, Legacy, Forester, Impreza, and Crosstrek.[32]
In summer 1987, the Ford Fiesta and Fiat Uno became the first mainstream European cars to be equipped with steel-belted CVT (as opposed to the less robust rubber-belted DAF design). This CVT, the Ford CTX was developed by Ford, Van Doorne, and Fiat, with work on the transmission starting in 1976.[31]
The 1992 Nissan March contained Nissan's N-CVT based on the Fuji Heavy Industries ECVT.[31] In the late 1990s, Nissan designed its own CVT that allowed for higher torque and included a torque converter. This gearbox was used in a number of Japanese-market models. Nissan is also the only car maker to bring a roller-based CVT to the market in recent years.[when?] Their toroidal CVT, named the Extroid, was available in the Japanese market Y34 Nissan Gloria and V35 Skyline GT-8. However, the gearbox was not carried over when the Cedric/Gloria was replaced by the Nissan Fuga in 2004. The Nissan Murano, introduced in 2003, and the Nissan Rogue, introduced in 2007, also use CVT in their automatic transmission models. In a Nissan press release, dated 12 July 2006, Nissan announced a large-scale shift to CVTs when they selected their XTronic CVT technology[33] for all automatic versions of the Versa, Cube, Sentra, Altima and Maxima vehicles in North America, making the CVT a mainstream transmission system. One major motivator for Nissan to make a switch to CVTs was as a part of their 'Green Program 2010' aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 2010. The CVT found in Nissan's Maxima, Murano and the V6 version of the Altima is considered to be the world's first "3.5 L class" belt CVT and can hold much higher torque loads than other belt CVTs.[34]
After studying pulley-based CVT for years, Honda[35] also introduced their own version on the 1995 Honda Civic VTi. Dubbed Honda Multi Matic, this CVT gearbox accepted higher torque than traditional pulley CVTs, and also includes a torque converter for "creep" action. The CVT is employed in the Honda City ZX that is manufactured in India and Honda City Vario manufactured in Pakistan.
In 1996, Fendt, a Germany-based tractor manufacturer, released the first ever heavy-duty tractor to be equipped with a hydrostatic type CVT with the Fendt Vario 926.[36] A year later Fendt was acquired by AGCO Corporation which expanded the use of the transmission to the Challenger Tractor, Massey Ferguson, and TerraGator[37] brands of machinery, which are also owned by AGCO. Well over 100,000 agricultural tractors have been manufactured with this transmission design.[36]
Toyota used a Power Split Transmission (PST) in the 1997 Prius, and all subsequent Toyota and Lexus hybrids sold internationally continue to use the system (marketed under the Hybrid Synergy Drive name). The HSD is also referred to as an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The PST allows either the electric motor or the internal combustion engine (ICE) or both to propel the vehicle. In ICE-only mode, part of the engine's power is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain, with the other part going through a generator and a motor. The amount of power being channeled through the electrical path determine the effective gear ratio. Toyota also offers a non-hybrid CVT called Multidrive for models such as Avensis.
Audi has, since 2000, offered a chain-type CVT (multitronic) as an option on some of its larger-engine models, for example the A4 3.0 L V6.
Fiat in 2000 offered a Cone-type CVT as an option on its hit model Fiat Punto (16v 80 PS ELX,Sporting) and Lancia Y (1.2 16V).
BMW used a belt-drive CVT (manufactured by ZF Friedrichshafen) as an option for the low- and middle-range MINI in 2001, forsaking it only on the supercharged version of the car where the increased torque levels demanded a conventional automatic gearbox. The CVT could also be manually "shifted" if desired with software-simulated shift points.
MG-Rover used an identical ZF CVT on its Rover 45 and MG ZS models.
GM introduced its version of CVT known as VTi in 2002. It was used in the Saturn Vue and Saturn Ion models.
In 2002 the Suzuki Burgman 650 was the largest-displacement scooter in the world, and first two-wheel vehicle to feature an electrically controlled CVT.[38][39]
Mercedes-Benz introduced their version of the CVT, known as "Autotronic", in 2004 for the 2005 model year A-Class. And later in 2005 for the 2006 model year B-Class.
Ford introduced a chain-driven CVT known as the CFT30 in their 2005 Ford Freestyle, Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego. The transmission was designed in cooperation with German automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen and was produced in Batavia, Ohio at Batavia Transmissions LLC (a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company) until 22 March 2007. The Batavia plant also produced the belt-driven CFT23 CVT which went in the Ford Focus C-MAX, which didn't have much success because of gearbox failures, as it was coupled to the 1.6 TDCi turbodiesel engine, which had a higher torque rating than the CVT can handle. Ford also sold Escort and Orion models in Europe with CVTs in the 1980s and 1990s.
Contract agreements were established in 2005 between MTD Products and Torotrak for the first full toroidal system to be manufactured for outdoor power equipment such as jet skis, ski-mobiles and ride-on mowers.[40]
The 2007 Dodge Caliber and the related Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot employ a CVT using a variable pulley system as their optional automatic transmission.[41]
The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer model is available with CVT as the automatic transmission. DE and ES models receive a standard CVT with "drive" and "low" gears; the GTS model is equipped with a standard drive and also a "Sportronic" mode that allows the driver to use 6 different preset gear ratios (either with the shifter or steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters).
The 2009 SEAT Exeo is available with an automatic CVT (multitronic) as an option for the 2.0 TSI 200 hp (149 kW) petrol engine, with selectable "six-speeds".[42]
In 2010, the US Patent Office issued patent number 7,647,768 B1 for a series of hydraulic torque converters that use hydraulic friction rather than mechanical friction as a CVT.
Suzuki has used CVT since 2010 on their SX4 and Kizashi models.
In 2016, FCA US LLC announced the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan which uses a CVT instead of the 9-speed automatic found in gasoline versions.[43]
For the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Toyota created an all new CVT with a "launch gear" or a physical 1st gear from a conventional automatic transmission alongside the CVT pulley. From 0-25 mph the transmission would stay in this launch gear to aid in acceleration from a stop and improve durability of the CVT. After 25 mph, the transmission would switch over to the CVT pulley.[44]
Marketing names
- Lineartronic: Subaru
- Xtronic: Jatco, Nissan, Renault
- K CVT, CVTi, eCVT, Voltec: Toyota, Honda, GM
- INVECS-III: Mitsubishi
- Multitronic: Volkswagen, Audi
- Autotronic: Mercedes
- IVT : Hyundai, Kia
See also
- Constant speed drive
- Friction drive
- List of automobiles with continuously variable transmissions
- Power band
Notes
- ^ Harris, William (27 April 2005). "Diagram of Pulley-based CVT's". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
Citations
- ^ "cvt efficiency" (PDF). zeroshift.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "use of clutch with CVT". Scootnfast.com. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Keith Collantine (3 May 2007). "Banned! Continuously Variable Transmission". F1fanatic.co.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "HERE'S PROOF THAT COMMUTER BIKES DON'T HAVE TO SUCK". Wired.
- ^ "How a Bike With Infinite Gears Changed The Way I Commute".
- ^ "Projet CVT wind turbine".
- ^ Fischetti, Mark (January 2006). "No More Gears". Scientific American. 294 (1): 92–3. Bibcode:2006SciAm.294a..92F. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0106-92. PMID 16468439.
- ^ Jorge A.C. Ambrósio, ed. "Advances in Computational Multibody Systems". 2005. Section "An Elastic Model of a Push-Belt CVT". p. 269-294. p. 271.
- ^ Friedrich Pfeiffer. "Mechanical System Dynamics". 2008. Section "CVT - Push Belt Configuration". p. 320.
- ^ John Kelly: CVT Transaxle Steel Push Belt Construction (YouTube), Weber State University, Odgen, 2017.
- ^ "Developments in Full-Toroidal Traction Drive Infinitely & Continuously Variable Transmissions (CTI Innovative Automotive Transmissions Conference and Exhibition)" (PDF). Torotrak. August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2012.
- ^ "Magnets offer advantages as an alternative to mechanical gears". Engineer Live. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ Chas. A. Trask, Tractor Friction Transmissions, Journal of the Society of Automotive Engineers, Vol. II, No. 6 (June 1918); page 440. Compare Fig. 2, the Elgin Tractor, with Fig. 12, the Plymouth Locomotive.
- ^ "Torotrak announces commencement of pilot build at Infinitrak and Infinitrak's first product - the Twin Toroidal Transmission" (PDF). Torotrak. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Further commitment by Allison Transmission, Inc" (PDF). Torotrak. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2018.
- ^ Jones, Franklin D., et al. (1930). Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors. Industrial Press. ISBN 0-8311-1084-8. pp. 343–345, Volume I.
- ^ "drives". Zero-max.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ "FEVj Infinitely Variable Transmission". Fuel-efficient-vehicles.org. 2 August 1994. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ "AGCO's Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Explained". Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "CVT Explained". Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "CVT transmission". Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Toyota Prius - Power Split Device". Eahart.com. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ "John's Stuff - Toyota Prius Education - Power Split Device". John1701a.com. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ "Radial roller CVT patent". Girottobrevetti.com. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^ "G-Rotor IVT". Girottobrevetti.com. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Hampl, Jasoň; Vítek (2006). "A New Concept of Infinitely Variable Transmission for Mechanically Powered Gyrobuses". Mecca. 4 (1+2): 18–27.
- ^ A Tale of Two Brothers, Gas Engine Magazine
- ^ "DAVID HISTORIA". www.autopasion18.com.
- ^ Hilton Holloway, Martin Buckley (2002). 20th Century Cars. Carlton. ISBN 978-1-84222-835-7.
- ^ "Fuji Heavy Industries to increase production of ECVT systems". Nihon Keizai Shimbun: 12. 13 June 1987.
- ^ a b c Poulton, M.L. (1997). Fuel Efficient Car Technology. Computational Mechanics Publications. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-85312-447-1.
- ^ Lineartronic® CVT Transmission Archived 26 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Nissan Technological Development Activities Overview: Xtronic Cvt". Nissan-global.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ^ "CVT". Jatco. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010.
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(help) - ^ "Honda Worldwide - Technology Picture Book - CVT". honda.com. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Fendt History". Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "TerraGator Features". Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Suzuki Electrically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (SECVT)". Global Communications Magazine. 1. 2002. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
Unlike the conventional centrifugal CVT using a rubber belt, the SECVT adjusts the CVT ratio by varying the drive-pulley diameter with an electric actuator motor," relates Kazutoshi Ohashi, who led development of the SECVT control systems in Group I, Miyakoda R&D Centre. "The SECVT controller calculates the target engine revolution based on the vehicle speed and throttle position, and automatically adjusts the CVT ratio. Unlike conventional systems that adjust the CVT ratio only to the engine revolution, the SECVT's calculation is made with the throttle position — the rider's acceleration choice — also taken into consideration. That optimizes the CVT ratio for actual riding conditions.
- ^ Ash, Kevin (29 June 2002). "Press here for 'power' mode". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
Meanwhile, with a computer to control the transmission ratio, the possibility for gimmicks and gadgets is opened wide - something Suzuki has embraced with open arms. As well as the normal operating mode, a handlebar switch changes the system to "power" mode, which lets the engine rev some 1,500rpm higher at any given road speed, the intention being to increase power and torque for sharper performance at the expense of economy. But it's the third option that has been fascinating motorcyclists as much as scooter riders - push another button and you switch to manual operation, giving the Burgman a Porsche Tiptronic-style set of button-operated "gears" to play with.
- ^ "Torotrak announces agreement to form Joint Venture for high-volume manufacture of IVT technology" (PDF). Torotrak.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, & Jeep Patriot". The Ecology Center. Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
- ^ "SEAT Exeo 2.0 TSI technical information". Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
- ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica: New Look, New Name, New Hybrid Powertrain". Automobile Magazine. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
If buyers do plug in and regularly top-up the battery pack, that number is expected to be 80 mpge, with about 30 miles of all-electric driving possible. Instead of the nine-speed automatic, an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission of Chrysler's own design will divvy up power to the front wheels.
- ^ 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatch: Top 5 Things You Need to Know!. www.youtube.com. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatch: Top 5 Things You Need to Know!