A CVT transmission including a start-up element, a variator, and a direct-shift stage for switching between a first operating range (low) and a second operating range (high). A maximum transmission ratio of the second operating range (high) corresponds to a minimum transmission ratio of the first operating range (low). The transmission ratio ranges are arranged so that the marginal variator transmission ratio ranges, which constitute low-efficiency ranges, are not used.

Provided is a continuously variable transmission that uses friction clutches as power transmission switching mechanisms but without increasing the number of shafts and the overall length. The power transmission switching mechanisms are configured to switch between establishing and interrupting power transmission in the power transmission paths within the continuously variable transmission. A continuously variable transmission includes an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a continuously variable transmission device, and four friction clutches. The continuously variable transmission device includes, a first pulley, mounted to the first output shaft, a second pulley, mounted to the second output shaft, and an endless belt, looped around the first pulley and the second pulley. A first friction clutch and a second friction clutch are coaxial with the input shaft. A third friction clutch is coaxial with the second output shaft. A fourth friction clutch is coaxial with the first output shaft.

An automatic transmission for an electric vehicle includes: a belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism; a constantly meshed parallel shaft type gear transmission mechanism which is connected to an output portion of the belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism, and which has a plurality of shift stages; an input gear which is disposed to the input shaft to be rotated relative to the input shaft, and which is drivingly connected to one of a plurality of shift gears fixed to an output side shaft of the constantly meshed parallel shaft type gear transmission mechanism; and an engaging clutch mechanism which is disposed to the input shaft, and which selectively connects one of the input portion of the belt type continuously variable transmission mechanism and the input gear to the main electric motor.

A continuously variable transmission provides an increased transmission speed ratio with fewer parts. A kinematic arrangement can provide at least a squared kinematic arrangement of the variator for two or more modes, for example, and can provide an increased range transmission speed ratio with fewer moving parts. In many embodiments, the continuously variable transmission provides synchronous gear ratios and a continuously variable speed ratio.

In a continuously variable transmission, driving force from a drive source is transmitted via a path to establish a LOW mode. A large torque that is transmitted in the LOW mode passes through a first output switching mechanism. Since a countershaft is relatively rotatably disposed on an outer periphery of an input shaft, and the first output switching mechanism is disposed on the countershaft, the countershaft which transmits a large torque is disposed on an outer peripheral side of a double tube and supported directly by a transmission case, and the input shaft which transmits a relatively small torque is supported via the countershaft, thereby making it possible to support the first output switching mechanism with high rigidity without carrying out special reinforcement.

A control system for a multiple-mode continuously variable transmission is described as having a ball planetary variator operably coupled to multiple-mode gearing. The control system has a transmission control module configured to receive a plurality of electronic input signals, and to determine a mode of operation from a plurality of control ranges based at least in part on the plurality of electronic input signals. In some embodiments, the system also has a ratio schedule module configured to store at least one shift schedule map, and configured to determine a desired speed ratio of the variator based at least in part on the mode of operation; a variator control module configured to receive the desired speed ratio and configured to determine an actuator setpoint signal based at least in part on the mode of operation; and a torque reversal module.

Transmission system (TS) comprising: a clutch module (CM) having an input (In) and a first and a second output (O1, O2), wherein between the first output and the input, a first clutch device (B, B1, C2) provided with first actuating means is present, and between the second output and the input a second clutch device (C, B2) with second actuating means is present, and a transmission module (TM), with an output (Out) and a first and a second input (i1, i2), wherein between the first input and the output, a first partial transmission provided with at least one transmission (VAR) is present, and between the second input and the output a second partial transmission provided with at least one further transmission or a mechanical connection is present, in which the two outputs (O1, O2) of the clutch module are connected to the two inputs (i1, i2) of the transmission module.

The transmission system further comprises a short-circuit clutch (S), which is present between the two outputs of the clutch module and/or the two inputs of the transmission module.

The transmission (VAR) inside the first partial transmission is continuously variable within a specified transmission range.

The driving force from a drive source is transmitted from a main input shaft to a continuously variable transmission mechanism through an input switching mechanism and a first input path in which a first speed-reducing gear is disposed, and is further transmitted to a first output path in which a second speed-reducing gear is disposed, thus establishing a LOW mode. And the driving force is transmitted from the main input shaft to the continuously variable transmission mechanism through the input switching mechanism and a second input path in which a speed-increasing gear, and is further transmitted to a second output path in which a third speed-reducing gear, thus establishing a HI mode. The first speed-reducing gear on the input side, the speed-increasing gear on the input side and the second and third speed-reducing gears on the output side are independent from each other.

An exemplary transmission system (TS) includes a clutch module (CM) having an input (In) and a first and a second output (O1, O2). A first clutch device (B, B1, C2) provided with a first actuator is present between the first output and the input, and a second clutch device (C, B2) with a second actuator is present between the second output and the input. The transmission system also includes a transmission module (TM), with an output (Out) and a first and a second input (i1, i2). A first partial transmission provided with at least one transmission (VAR) is present between the first input and the output, and a second partial transmission provided with at least one further transmission or a mechanical connection is present between the second input and the output. Two outputs (O1, O2) of the clutch module are connected to the two inputs (i1, i2) of the transmission module.

In a continuously variable transmission, driving force from a drive source is transmitted via the path: first input switching mechanism.fwdarw.first input path.fwdarw.first countershaft.fwdarw.first pulley.fwdarw.endless belt.fwdarw.second pulley.fwdarw.second countershaft.fwdarw.first output path.fwdarw.second input shaft.fwdarw.first output switching mechanism.fwdarw.output shaft to thus establish a LOW mode. A large torque that is transmitted in the LOW mode passes through the first output switching mechanism, but since the second input shaft is relatively rotatably disposed on the outer periphery of the first input shaft and the first output switching mechanism is disposed on the second input shaft, it is possible to enhance the rigidity of the input shaft due to the double tube structure formed from the first input shaft and the second input shaft and to support the first output switching mechanism with high rigidity without carrying out special reinforcement.