Toroidal CVT Containment Ring for Disc Fragment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In toroidal continuously variable transmissions, if a disc breaks during operation, fragments can collide with the housing due to centrifugal force, and increasing the housing thickness or design to contain these fragments increases weight and manufacturing cost.
Innovation Solution
A toroidal continuously variable transmission design that includes an input disc, an output disc, a power roller, and a containment body with a ring that covers the discs, where the ring's maximum axial dimension is larger than the disc's, preventing disc fragments from colliding with the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing thickness is increased to contain disc fragments, then containment performance is improved, but weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A containment body (intermediary structure) is introduced between the disc and the housing to prevent disc fragments from directly colliding with the housing. The containment body includes a ring-shaped structure with a maximum axial dimension larger than the disc's maximum axial dimension, creating a protective barrier that intercepts fragments before they reach the housing, thereby maintaining containment performance without increasing housing thickness or weight.
2Reliability
If the housing design is changed to contain disc fragments, then containment performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment function is segmented from the housing structure and implemented as a separate, modular containment body. This segmentation allows the containment body to be designed and manufactured independently as a simpler ring-shaped component, reducing the complexity and cost of housing modifications while achieving the required containment performance.
3Reliability
If the ring's maximum axial dimension is made larger than the disc's, then containment performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment body employs a ring-shaped structure with curved geometry, where the maximum axial dimension of the ring exceeds the disc's maximum axial dimension. This curved, ring-shaped design provides effective containment coverage in a compact and elegant form, achieving superior containment performance without requiring complex multi-component structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration compensates for containment performance without increasing the housing thickness or design, effectively preventing disc fragments from colliding with the housing, thus reducing impact loads and maintaining operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
fragments of the disc collide with a housing by centrifugal force
Data Source
AI summary
A toroidal continuously variable transmission including at least one containment body covering a target disc that is at least one of an input disc and an output disc. The containment body includes a ring that covers an outer peripheral surface of the target disc so as to be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the target disc in a radial direction. A maximum dimension of the ring in an axial direction is larger than a maximum dimension of the outer peripheral surface of the target disc in the axial direction.