A direct shift continuously variable transmission for a vehicle engine includes a variator having a toroidal cavity; a plurality of traction roller rotatably and radially located within the toroidal cavity; an input shaft rotatably disposed within the variator, the input shaft being adapted to receive a torque from the vehicle engine; an input disk coaxially connected to the input shaft and frictionally contacting the traction roller to provide a rotational force to the traction roller; an output disk opposed to the input disk and frictionally contacting the traction roller, the output disk being annularly rotatable by receiving the rotational force from the traction roller; and an output shaft coaxially connected to the output disk and receiving the rotational force from the output disk.

A direct shift continuously variable transmission for a vehicle engine includes a variator having a toroidal cavity; a plurality of traction roller rotatably and radially located within the toroidal cavity; an input shaft rotatably disposed within the variator, the input shaft being adapted to receive a torque from the vehicle engine; an input disk coaxially connected to the input shaft and frictionally contacting the traction roller to provide a rotational force to the traction roller; an output disk opposed to the input disk and frictionally contacting the traction roller, the output disk being annularly rotatable by receiving the rotational force from the traction roller; and an output shaft coaxially connected to the output disk and receiving the rotational force from the output disk.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

In a toroidal variator a plurality of rolling elements (20, 22) are in driving engagement with an input and output race (10, 14) at respective contact regions. Each rolling element (20, 22) is mounted on a carriage assembly (26) for rotation about a rolling axis, and is being free to pivot about a tilt axis, the tilt axis passing through the rolling element (20, 22) perpendicular to the rolling axis, and intersecting the rolling axis at a roller center, whereby a change in the tilt axis causes a change in the variator ratio being the ratio of rotational speeds of the races. The tilt axis is arranged at an angle known as castor angle (see FIG. 4) to a plane (P) perpendicular to the variator axis (V). Each carriage assembly (26) can cause a movement of the rolling element (20, 22) with a component of rotation about a pitch axis (A, B). The pitch axis is defined as passing through the roller center and through the contact regions. Pitching the roller elements (20, 22) causes them to tilt, thereby changing the transmission ratio.

In a toroidal variator a plurality of rolling elements (20, 22) are in driving engagement with an input and output race (10, 14) at respective contact regions. Each rolling element (20, 22) is mounted on a carriage assembly (26) for rotation about a rolling axis, and is being free to pivot about a tilt axis, the tilt axis passing through the rolling element (20, 22) perpendicular to the rolling axis, and intersecting the rolling axis at a roller center, whereby a change in the tilt axis causes a change in the variator ratio being the ratio of rotational speeds of the races. The tilt axis is arranged at an angle known as castor angle (see FIG. 4) to a plane (P) perpendicular to the variator axis (V). Each carriage assembly (26) can cause a movement of the rolling element (20, 22) with a component of rotation about a pitch axis (A, B). The pitch axis is defined as passing through the roller center and through the contact regions. Pitching the roller elements (20, 22) causes them to tilt, thereby changing the transmission ratio.

A continuous variable transmission, Variator, which works on the ball and disc principle whereby the ball is in a fixed position, free to rotate in any direction, and the discs move to and from each other causing output shaft to either idle or rotate of various speeds including reverse as directed by the attached control device, without need for additional gears and clutches.

A continuous variable transmission variator, which works on the ball and disc principle whereby the ball is in a fixed position, free to rotate in any direction, and the discs move to and from each other causing output shaft to either idle or rotate of various speeds including reverse as directed by the attached control device, without need for additional gears and clutches.