Technology
InfiniTran™ drives and transmissions are based on novel approaches to controlling an epicyclic gear train.
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| Representative conventional epicyclic gear train having fixed input to output RPM ratio. |
Input shaft rotates a carrier plate 1 or more planetary gears are attached to the carrier Input RPM plus gear ratios (ring/planetary/sun) determine sun gear RPM Output shaft attached to sun gear and rotates at sun gear RPM
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| Conceptual representation of controlled epicyclic gear train having a "variator" to vary smoothly the ratio of input to output RPM |
Controlled Epicyclic Gear Trains
Input shaft rotates a "variator" having a variable or adjustable dimension element Variator modifies the input RPM based on the specific setting of the adjustable dimension The modified RPM is transmitted to the planetary gears Modified RPM plus gear ratios (ring/planetary/sun) determine sun gear RPM Output shaft attached to sun gear and rotates at sun gear RPM
The key to our drives is the design of the variator. This is where mechanical stresses are the highest and the dynamic range of control is determined. VeriTran has developed two classes of variators. One employs a serpentine belt and has a variable diameter sheave-like component to change the speed of the planetary gears (see InfiniTran™ Products/S-Series). Our second approach uses a movable, wedge-shaped race and roller on a variable radius arm to control the planetary gear's RPM (see InfiniTran™ Products/R-Series ).