A drive system for a vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device directly coupled to a first planetary gear set and a second electromagnetic device directly coupled to a second planetary gear set. In a first mode of operation, a clutch is engaged to couple the second planetary gear set to the first planetary gear set and a brake is disengaged to allow rotation of the second planetary gear set and in a second mode of operation, the brake is engaged to limit rotation of the second planetary gear set and the clutch is disengaged.

A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set, a second electrical machine coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set, a connecting shaft coupled to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft that transports power from the electrical machines to a tractive element, a first clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft, and at least one of a second clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second electrical machine to the connecting shaft and a third clutch selectively rotationally coupling the second gear set to the driveshaft.

A variable transmission includes various powerpath layouts consisting in either; a single mode with approximately symmetrical reverse and forward speeds and includes an input shaft, one or two planetary gear sets, or a planetary gear set and a compound gear set when the RTS (ring-to-sun) ratio of the planetary gear set is not physically possible; or a dual mode with each mode being selected by closing a clutch/brake and releasing the other. A first up-speed planetary gear set on the input side of a variator, and a second planetary gear set on the output side of the variator, both configured to split the torque when drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly. Various up-speed ratio arrangements are shown that tend to increase the speeds and decrease the torque acting on the CVP, allowing a decrease in the variator size.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine (10), a first motor generator (MG1), a second motor generator (MG2), a transmission unit (power transmission unit) (40), a differential unit (50), a clutch (CS) and a mechanical oil pump (501). The hybrid vehicle is able to switch between series-parallel mode in which power of the engine is transmitted via the transmission unit and the differential unit and series mode in which power of the engine is transmitted via the clutch. The differential unit (50) is a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear (S2) connected to the first motor generator (MG1), a ring gear (R2) connected to the second motor generator (MG2), and a carrier (CA2) connected to a ring gear (R1) that is an output element of the transmission unit (40). The mechanical oil pump (501) is driven by power that is transmitted from the carrier (CA2) of the differential unit.

A drive system includes a first gear set and a second gear set, each including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears, a first electrical machine directly coupled to the sun gear of the first gear set, a second electrical machine directly coupled to the sun gear of the second gear set, a connecting shaft directly coupling an engine to the ring gear of the first gear set, a driveshaft configured to transport power from the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, and the engine to a tractive element of the vehicle, and a clutch selectively rotationally coupling the first carrier and the second carrier to the driveshaft when engaged.

Provided herein is a variator including: a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a plurality of balls, wherein each ball of the plurality of balls has a tiltable axis of rotation; and a traction patch oil control member coupled to the first and/or second traction ring assembly.

Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. In some embodiments, a powertrain is configured to have a ball-type variator and two planetary gear sets. Clutches selectively engagement members of the variator to provide multiple modes of operation.

Provided herein is a powertrain including: a main shaft; a variator having a first plurality of balls, each ball provided with a tiltable axis of rotation, each ball in contact with a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly, and each ball operably coupled to a first carrier assembly; a first planetary gear set having a first ring gear, a first planet carrier supporting a first plurality of planet gears coupled to the first ring gear, and a first sun gear coupled to the first plurality of the planet gears; and a second planetary gear set having a second ring gear, a second planet carrier supporting a second plurality of planet gears coupled to the second ring gear, and a second sun gear coupled to the second plurality of the planet gears.

Devices and methods are provided herein for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power is transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. Provided herein is variator including a rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power and a variator assembly having a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a plurality of balls, wherein each ball of the plurality of balls has a tiltable axis of rotation. The variator assembly is coaxial with the rotatable shaft and further includes a first axial thrust bearing coupled to the rotatable shaft and the first traction ring assembly and a second axial thrust bearing coupled to the rotatable shaft and the second traction ring assembly.

A drive device for a motor vehicle. A first drive assembly, a second drive assembly, and an epicyclic gear train, via which the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly can be coupled to each other and to a driven shaft of the drive device. The first drive assembly is coupled to a first transmission element, the second drive assembly is coupled to a second transmission element, and the driven shaft is coupled to a third transmission element of the epicyclic gear train. The epicyclic gear train has a locking clutch for coupling of the second transmission element and the third transmission element to each other and the first transmission element can be braked by means of a braking device.