An example variable transmission system is provided. As an example, a variable transmission system may include a frame, an output hub coupled to the frame, a first linear actuator coupled to the frame, and a second linear actuator coupled to the frame. The variable transmission system may also include a tension-bearing element positioned around the output hub. A first end of the tension-bearing element may be coupled to the first linear actuator, and a second end of the tension-bearing element may be coupled to the second linear actuator. The tension-bearing element may include a variable stiffness profile such that a transmission ratio of the output hub may be adjusted based on a position of the second linear actuator relative to the output hub.

A drive arrangement for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprockets arranged at a rear wheel of the bicycle. The sprockets may be particularly arranged to have a spacing that facilitates the configuration of an increasing number of sprockets in the plurality of sprockets. A singular front sprocket or chainring may be used to drive the rear plurality of sprockets. A particularly configured tool may be used to configure the drive arrangement.

A drive arrangement for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprockets arranged at a rear wheel of the bicycle. The sprockets may be particularly arranged to have a spacing that facilitates the configuration of an increasing number of sprockets in the plurality of sprockets. A singular front sprocket or chainring may be used to drive the rear plurality of sprockets. A particularly configured tool may be used to configure the drive arrangement.

A key pulley segment in a synchronized, segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system is either first or last in a pulley segment set to engage an endless member. The first or last key segment teeth to engage or disengage, respectively, are shortened or completely trimmed, and the adjacent pulley segment to the key segment is elongated such that the inward portion of the tooth profile extends toward the key segment. Shortened tooth or teeth and an elongated adjacent segment together allow for many pulley segments to be designed as key segments. Completely trimmed teeth may be engineered to create a supporting surface for the endless member on the key segment. The elongated adjacent segment may have an extending portion which slidably mates with the supporting surface of the key segment, thereby receiving radial support therefrom. Multiple pulley segments from different pulley segment sets may be connected or constructed to move together in a unified stack, and may be staggered such that any one segment may be in an engaging position with the endless member when the unified stack is moved along the axis of rotation. Unified stacks may have guiding rails on both inner and outer radial surfaces, and the pulley assembly may have mating features that receive such guiding rails. Any number of the pulley segments in a unified stack may be key pulley segments. Pulley segments of a stack may be vertically separated into one or more unified stacks. Unified stacks may be moved by way of a cam or roller cam system, where each unified stack has a slidably or ratably attached roller and roller-arm. Chassis-mounted cams engage the rollers outside of the contact zone, rollers and roller-arms are moved into and out of engagement with the cams, and individual segments of a unified stack are moved into or out of engagement. Rollers may be actuated into and out of engagement by electromagnets, fixable mounted in an array. Rollers may discretely engage with multiple cams, by way of several electromagnet-arrays, and thereby complete several stack axial motions. Electromagnets in an array may be selectively energized to move selected rollers to an active position in order to effect key pulley segment engagement, stack axial movement and transition.

A key pulley segment in a synchronized, segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system is either first or last in a pulley segment set to engage an endless member. The first or last key segment teeth to engage or disengage, respectively, are shortened or completely trimmed, and the adjacent pulley segment to the key segment is elongated such that the inward portion of the tooth profile extends toward the key segment. Shortened tooth or teeth and an elongated adjacent segment together allow for many pulley segments to be designed as key segments. Completely trimmed teeth may be engineered to create a supporting surface for the endless member on the key segment. The elongated adjacent segment may have an extending portion which slidably mates with the supporting surface of the key segment, thereby receiving radial support therefrom. Multiple pulley segments from different pulley segment sets may be connected or constructed to move together in a unified stack, and may be staggered such that any one segment may be in an engaging position with the endless member when the unified stack is moved along the axis of rotation. Unified stacks may have guiding rails on both inner and outer radial surfaces, and the pulley assembly may have mating features that receive such guiding rails. Any number of the pulley segments in a unified stack may be key pulley segments. Pulley segments of a stack may be vertically separated into one or more unified stacks. Unified stacks may be moved by way of a cam or roller cam system, where each unified stack has a slidably or ratably attached roller and roller-arm. Chassis-mounted cams engage the rollers outside of the contact zone, rollers and roller-arms are moved into and out of engagement with the cams, and individual segments of a unified stack are moved into or out of engagement. Rollers may be actuated into and out of engagement by electromagnets, fixable mounted in an array. Rollers may discretely engage with multiple cams, by way of several electromagnet-arrays, and thereby complete several stack axial motions. Electromagnets in an array may be selectively energized to move selected rollers to an active position in order to effect key pulley segment engagement, stack axial movement and transition.

A continuously variable transmission with an annular band body including grooves meshable with movable teeth provided on a second pulley and a biasing unit configured to bias the movable teeth radially outwardly of a shaft portion is provided with a hydraulic control unit configured to reduce a hydraulic pressure in a second oil chamber when a speed ratio reaches a predetermined speed ratio at which the grooves are meshed with the movable teeth.

A continuously variable transmission with an annular band body including grooves meshable with movable teeth provided on a second pulley and a biasing unit configured to bias the movable teeth radially outwardly of a shaft portion is provided with a hydraulic control unit configured to reduce a hydraulic pressure in a second oil chamber when a speed ratio reaches a predetermined speed ratio at which the grooves are meshed with the movable teeth.

A chain guide element having a first guide rail and a second guide rail which is spaced from the first guide rail to guide a moving chain therebetween. On each lateral side of the chain guide element connecting elements connect the two guide rails in spaced relationship to slidably receive a moving chain. First supporting elements are positioned on the laterally arranged connecting elements that connect the first and second guide rails, and second supporting elements are carried by a stationary component to cooperate with the first supporting elements so that the chain guide element is pivotable and is linearly movable relative to the second supporting elements.

A chain guide element having a first guide rail and a second guide rail which is spaced from the first guide rail to guide a moving chain therebetween. On each lateral side of the chain guide element connecting elements connect the two guide rails in spaced relationship to slidably receive a moving chain. First supporting elements are positioned on the laterally arranged connecting elements that connect the first and second guide rails, and second supporting elements are carried by a stationary component to cooperate with the first supporting elements so that the chain guide element is pivotable and is linearly movable relative to the second supporting elements.

The present invention has a mechanical rotation drive mechanism (50) that drives rotation of at least one rotation pinion sprocket (22; 23) on its axis from among a plurality of pinion sprockets (20). The mechanical rotation drive mechanism (50) drives the rotation of at least one rotation pinion sprocket (22; 23) on its axis in concert with a sprocket movement mechanism (40A) so as to eliminate a phase shift, associated with a radial direction movement of the plurality of pinion sprockets (20) by the sprocket movement mechanism (40A), of the plurality of pinion sprockets (20) with respect to a chain (6).