CVT Metal Element Thickness Layout for Stable Power Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing metal elements in continuously variable transmissions have a chord shape that is curved on the inner side in the radial direction, leading to unstable orientation and inefficient driving force transmission due to uneven plate thicknesses, which complicates the transmission of driving force.
Innovation Solution
The metal element design includes a pair of ring slots, a neck part, an ear part, and a body part with specific contact surfaces and plate thicknesses, along with a rocking edge and inclined surface, allowing for stable orientation and efficient power transmission by ensuring uniform contact and reduced sliding between the metal element and the metal ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the plate thicknesses of the thick parts of the body part are set to be the largest, then compliance characteristics in the chord on the driving force transmission side are optimized, but the chord becomes curved on the inner side in the radial direction, causing unstable orientation and inefficient driving force transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different plate thicknesses for different parts of the metal element. Specifically, the thick parts of the body part have intermediate plate thicknesses (not the largest), the thick part of the neck part has the largest plate thickness, and the thick parts of the ear part have the smallest plate thicknesses. This localized differentiation of thickness creates a balanced chord shape that is slightly curved on the outer side in the radial direction, maintaining stable orientation while ensuring efficient driving force transmission through optimized compliance characteristics.
2Strength
If the chord is curved on the inner side in the radial direction, then plate thicknesses are maximized for strength, but stable orientation cannot be maintained and driving force transmission becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the plate thicknesses of different parts to achieve a specific chord geometry. The thick part of the neck part has the largest plate thickness for strength, while the thick parts of the body part have intermediate thicknesses, and the thick parts of the ear part have the smallest thicknesses. This parameter optimization results in a chord that is slightly curved on the outer side in the radial direction, maintaining both structural strength and stable orientation for efficient driving force transmission.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform plate thickness is used across all thick parts, then manufacturing is simplified, but the chord cannot maintain stable orientation and driving force transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifying different plate thicknesses for different parts of the metal element. The thick part of the neck part has the largest plate thickness, the thick parts of the body part have intermediate plate thicknesses, and the thick parts of the ear part have the smallest plate thicknesses. This localized differentiation optimizes the chord shape to be slightly curved on the outer side in the radial direction, ensuring stable orientation and efficient driving force transmission while remaining manufacturable through conventional processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A metal element for continuously variable transmission and method of producing the same are provided. A rear surface of a metal element includes first contact parts formed at top positions on the outer side in the radial direction of a saddle surface on left and right sides of an ear part, a second contact part formed in a neck part, and third contact parts formed at a top position of the saddle surface on left and right sides of the body part. In a chord on the driving force transmission side of the metal belt, the first to third contact parts are able to be brought into contact with a front surface of another metal element adjacent to the rear side. A plate thickness of the metal element at the second contact part is smaller than the first contact part and is larger than the third contact part.