A dual-cavity toroidal variator is disclosed herein. The torques from the first and second cavities are balanced by controlling each roller with mechanical devices rather than individually controlling each roller with a hydraulic actuator. The mechanical devices may be balancing mechanisms having a pivotable linking lever (66) by which the roller carrier (40) of the first cavity and the roller carrier (41) of the second cavity are linked.

A dual-cavity toroidal variator is disclosed herein. The torques from the first and second cavities are balanced by controlling each roller with mechanical devices rather than individually controlling each roller with a hydraulic actuator. The mechanical devices may be balancing mechanisms having a pivotable linking lever (66) by which the roller carrier (40) of the first cavity and the roller carrier (41) of the second cavity are linked.

A continuously variable transmission ring driving mechanism, including a cylinder having a ring-shaped recess with a ring-shaped bottom-wall and two ring-shaped sidewalls, the ring-shaped bottom-wall having axial guide-holes each for receiving a continuously variable transmission rod; rollers pivotally disposed at the ring-shaped bottom-wall and the ring-shaped sidewalls and exposed partially from the ring-shaped recess; and a continuously variable transmission annular unit movably received in the ring-shaped recess, wherein an inner ring-shaped surface of the continuously variable transmission annular unit is in contact with the rollers of the ring-shaped bottom-wall, and two opposing ring-shaped surfaces of the continuously variable transmission annular unit are in contact with the rollers of the ring-shaped sidewalls, the continuously variable transmission annular unit having oblique guide-holes, allowing the oblique guide-holes to guide the continuously variable transmission rod along axial direction of the cylinder when the continuously variable transmission annular unit rotates about the cylinder.

A continuously variable transmission ring driving mechanism, including a cylinder having a ring-shaped recess with a ring-shaped bottom-wall and two ring-shaped sidewalls, the ring-shaped bottom-wall having axial guide-holes each for receiving a continuously variable transmission rod; rollers pivotally disposed at the ring-shaped bottom-wall and the ring-shaped sidewalls and exposed partially from the ring-shaped recess; and a continuously variable transmission annular unit movably received in the ring-shaped recess, wherein an inner ring-shaped surface of the continuously variable transmission annular unit is in contact with the rollers of the ring-shaped bottom-wall, and two opposing ring-shaped surfaces of the continuously variable transmission annular unit are in contact with the rollers of the ring-shaped sidewalls, the continuously variable transmission annular unit having oblique guide-holes, allowing the oblique guide-holes to guide the continuously variable transmission rod along axial direction of the cylinder when the continuously variable transmission annular unit rotates about the cylinder.

Disclosed is a toroidal variable speed traction drive including a driving disc and a driven disc, with a plurality of roller assemblies in between. Each roller assembly has a toroidal rolling surface to contact the toroidal surface of the corresponding disc, and a conical surface, for engaging the other roller in the assembly. An engagement is provide to prevent or reduce axial movement between the first and second rollers along the conical surface.

Disclosed is a toroidal variable speed traction drive including a driving disc and a driven disc, with a plurality of roller assemblies in between. Each roller assembly has a toroidal rolling surface to contact the toroidal surface of the corresponding disc, and a conical surface, for engaging the other roller in the assembly. An engagement is provide to prevent or reduce axial movement between the first and second rollers along the conical surface.

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in operating mode of an IVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a drive clutch coupled to a source of rotational power; the drive clutch is configured to selectively engage a traction ring and a carrier of the IVT. The control system includes a one-way clutch assembly configured to selectively engage the traction ring and the carrier. In some embodiments, the control system governs the actuation of the one-way clutch to selectively lock and unlock components of the IVT. In some embodiments, the control system implements an IVT mode wherein the carrier selectively couples to a source of rotational power. In other embodiments, the control system implements a CVT mode wherein the traction ring selectively couples to a source of rotational power.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in operating mode of an IVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a drive clutch coupled to a source of rotational power; the drive clutch is configured to selectively engage a traction ring and a carrier of the IVT. The control system includes a one-way clutch assembly configured to selectively engage the traction ring and the carrier. In some embodiments, the control system governs the actuation of the one-way clutch to selectively lock and unlock components of the IVT. In some embodiments, the control system implements an IVT mode wherein the carrier selectively couples to a source of rotational power. In other embodiments, the control system implements a CVT mode wherein the traction ring selectively couples to a source of rotational power.