Limited-slip and torque-vectoring effect of a dual continuously variable transmission

This study investigates the limited-slip and steering characteristics of a dual continuously variable transmission system. The dual continuously variable transmission is a unique final drive system composed of two continuously variable transmissions, with one continuously variable transmission connected to each rear wheel. In this study, a dynamic model of the dual continuously variable transmission system is derived, and models of the conventional final drive systems, i.e. the solid axle and the open differential, are used as benchmarks. In the simulations, the dual continuously variable transmission model, the solid axle model and the open differential model are applied to a vehicle dynamic model for split-m road tests and a series of steering tests. According to the results of the split-m road tests, the limited-slip function of a dual continuously variable transmission system is verified. The results of the steering tests show that different torque distributions for the inside wheels and the outside wheels while cornering can be controlled with different gain values of the continuously variable transmissions; for this reason, the application of the dual continuously variable transmission system as a torque-vectoring device is proposed, and a basic setting principle is presented. The results of this study establish a fundamental knowledge for developing the dual continuously variable transmission as an advanced final system for improving the vehicle dynamics.