An infinitely variable transmission includes an input differential and an output differential. The input differential and the output differential both include differentially associated forward path and reverse path gear members. The forward path gear members are meshed indirectly through an idler gear and the reverse path gear members mesh directly to cause counter-rotation of the output differential gear members. The input differential gear members are controlled by a variator so that the forward path gear members may be regulated to rotate faster than the reverse path gear members to cause forward rotation of the output shaft, or so that the forward path gear members may be regulated to rotate slower than the reverse path gear members to cause reverse rotation of the output shaft or so that the forward and reverse path gear members rotate at the same speed to make the output shaft stationary.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power can be transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner, with smaller and even less mechanical components, by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A power transmission apparatus comprises a power input shaft, a planetary gear set coupled to the power input shaft, and a variator, such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT), coupled to the gear set. The various components of the planetary gear set and the variator are arranged such that torque is split between two or more torque paths and then recombined before power is output to a gear box and a differential of the motor vehicle.

A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios.

A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable output ratios.

A transmission includes a housing, an input shaft, an output shaft, a first gearset, a second gearset, a variable-ratio unit, a first torque transmitting mechanism, and a bypass torque transmitting mechanism. The first gearset is arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, and the second gearset is coupled to the first gearset between the input shaft and the output shaft. The variable-ratio unit is configured to transmit power between (i) a first member coupled to the input shaft and the first gearset and (ii) a second member coupled to the first gearset. The first torque transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to couple the second gearset to the housing. The bypass torque transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to couple the first member to the second member to bypass the variable-ratio unit.

A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, at least five planetary gearsets, a variable-ratio unit, and at least five clutches. The at least five clutches are selectively engageable in combination with one another to select one of a plurality of operating modes including at least one reverse mode, at least five forward modes, and at least five transition modes. One of the at least five transition modes is configured to transition the transmission from the at least one reverse mode to one of the at least five forward modes. Another one of the at least five transition modes is configured to transition the transmission from the one of the at least five forward modes to another of the at least five forward modes. Each of the at least five transition modes includes a fixed speed ratio defined between the input shaft and the output shaft.

A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a variable-ratio unit, and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. The plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms include a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, and a fourth clutch. The transmission is operable to (i) engage the first clutch and the second clutch in a first operating mode and (ii) engage the first clutch and the third clutch in a second operating mode. The transmission is further operable to (i) engage the fourth clutch and disengage the second clutch during a first period of time and (ii) engage the third clutch and disengage the fourth clutch during a second period of time following the first period of time to transition from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.

A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable output ratios.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for the transmission of power in motor vehicles. Power can be transmitted in a smoother and more efficient manner, with smaller and even less mechanical components, by splitting torque into two or more torque paths. A power transmission apparatus comprises a power input shaft, a planetary gear set coupled to the power input shaft, and a variator, such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT), coupled to the gear set. The various components of the planetary gear set and the variator are arranged such that torque is split between two or more torque paths and then recombined before power is output to a gear box and a differential of the motor vehicle.

An infinitely-variable transmission system is disclosed. The system comprises an input shaft (10) and an output shaft (14). The transmission is operative to transmit rotational drive between the input shaft (10) and the output shaft (14). The transmission includes a variator (20) that can transmit drive at a continuously variable ratio between a minimum variator ratio and a maximum variator ratio. The transmission can operate a low-speed regime and in a high-speed regime. The transmission is operative in the low-speed regime, at a neutral low regime variator ratio, the transmission is in geared neutral, in which, the output of the transmission is stationary irrespective of the speed of the input of the transmission and at a maximum low regime variator ratio, the output of the transmission is driven from the input of the transmission at a maximum low-regime transmission ratio, In the high-speed regime, at a minimum high regime variator ratio, the output of the transmission is driven from the input of the transmission at a minimum high-regime ratio and at a maximum high regime variator ratio, the output of the transmission is driven from the input of the transmission at a maximum high-regime transmission ratio.