A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone. An actuator actuates the pulley segments between the engaging and non-engaging positions when the pulley segments are outside of the contact zone. One of the key pulley segments in the pulley segment set is a key pulley segment that is positioned relative to the core pulley such that when the key pulley segment is actuated to the engaging position and rotated into the contact zone, the corresponding mating features of the endless drive member engage the first set of mating features of the core pulley and the second set of mating features of the key pulley segment without the introduction of significant slack or tension.

A continuously variable transmission pulley includes a body defining a hollow tube having a longitudinal central bore. Multiple cylinders are fixed to the body each having a cylinder bore in fluid communication with the longitudinal central bore. A piston is slidably positioned in the cylinder bore of each of the cylinders. A pressurized fluid present in the central bore acts equally against each of the pistons to equally outwardly displace the pistons. A biasing member is connected to each piston and is in direct contact with the pressurized fluid. A friction member is connected to a free end of each of the pistons. Diametrically opposed ones of the friction members define a pulley diameter that varies depending on a portion of the diametrically opposed ones of the pistons extending outwardly from the cylinders.

A drive pulley for a CVT has a fixed sheave, a fixed sheave shaft fixedly connected to the fixed sheave, a movable sheave, a movable sheave shaft fixedly connected to the movable sheave, a spider and at least one centrifugal actuator. The fixed sheave shaft is disposed at least in part inside the movable sheave shaft. The movable sheave is disposed axially between the spider and the fixed sheave. A biasing member biases the movable sheave axially away from the fixed sheave. A torque transfer assembly is operatively connected to at least one of the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The torque transfer assembly transfers torque between the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The biasing member, the at least one centrifugal actuator and the torque transfer assembly are disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

A segmented pulley transmission with an actuator system is disclosed. The actuator system comprises: an engaging deflector radially movable between first active and idle positions; a disengaging deflector radially movable between second active and idle positions; and a motivator assembly for moving the engaging and disengaging deflectors between the active and idle positions. In the first active position, the engaging deflector is configured to move a plurality of pulley segments of the segmented pulley transmission from a disengaged region to an engaged region during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission. In the second active position, the disengaging deflector is configured to move the plurality of pulley segments from the engaged region to the disengaged region during rotational operation. In the first and second idle positions respectively, the engaging deflector and the disengaging deflector do not move the plurality of pulley segments during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission.

A segmented pulley transmission with an actuator system is disclosed. The actuator system comprises: an engaging deflector radially movable between first active and idle positions; a disengaging deflector radially movable between second active and idle positions; and a motivator assembly for moving the engaging and disengaging deflectors between the active and idle positions. In the first active position, the engaging deflector is configured to move a plurality of pulley segments of the segmented pulley transmission from a disengaged region to an engaged region during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission. In the second active position, the disengaging deflector is configured to move the plurality of pulley segments from the engaged region to the disengaged region during rotational operation. In the first and second idle positions respectively, the engaging deflector and the disengaging deflector do not move the plurality of pulley segments during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission.

A Cone with One Torque Transmitting Member that can be used to construct Non-friction Dependent CVT's that can be used with a Transmission Belt for which the teeth of the Transmission Belt are shaped below the belt of the Transmission Belt, such as a Timing Belt for example. In order to provide a Level Resting Place for the Transmission Belt on the conical (sloped) surfaces of its Cone, which are surfaces that are not covered by a Torque Transmitting Member or a Non-Torque Transmitting Member, the Torque Transmitting Member and the Non-Torque Transmitting Member each have a Leveling Extension. The Leveling Extension of the Torque Transmitting Member can enter and exit the Non-Torque Transmitting Member as required; and the Leveling Extension of the Non-Torque Transmitting Member can enter and exit the Torque Transmitting Member as required.

A Cone with One Torque Transmitting Member that can be used to construct Non-friction Dependent CVT's that can be used with a Transmission Belt for which the teeth of the Transmission Belt are shaped below the belt of the Transmission Belt, such as a Timing Belt for example. In order to provide a Level Resting Place for the Transmission Belt on the conical (sloped) surfaces of its Cone, which are surfaces that are not covered by a Torque Transmitting Member or a Non-Torque Transmitting Member, the Torque Transmitting Member and the Non-Torque Transmitting Member each have a Leveling Extension. The Leveling Extension of the Torque Transmitting Member can enter and exit the Non-Torque Transmitting Member as required; and the Leveling Extension of the Non-Torque Transmitting Member can enter and exit the Torque Transmitting Member as required.