Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A supercharging arrangement for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The supercharging arrangement has a supercharger having a rotational drive input. A transmission having a rotational drive input receives drive from an internal combustion engine, and a transmits drive to a rotational drive output connected to the input of the supercharger. The transmission includes a continuously-variable transmission means, such as a toroidal variator, operatively connected between the input and the output of the transmission. The supercharger comprises first and second compressors connected in series within an air path.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A drive arrangement is disclosed for a motor vehicle power take off (PTO). The arrangement comprises a PTO shaft 104,158,207 of a known type intended for coupling to a power driven implement. An input shaft is arranged to be coupled to a rotary driver such as an engine. A continuously variable transmission such as 10 is coupled between the input and PTO shafts to transfer drive between them at a continuously variable ratio. In accordance with the invention, the continuously variable transmission is constructed and arranged such as to regulate torque and to automatically accommodate changes in speed at the PTO Shaft by virtue of changes in its drive ratio.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for providing an “end-stop” function for a variator in a continuously variable transmission. The variator (8) needs some arrangement for preventing its own drive ratio from going beyond a ratio limit. In accordance with the present invention, this is provided by means of a one-way clutch (22 or 24). The one-way clutch is coupled to both the variators input and its output, and is arranged to engage (lock up) when the variator reaches its ratio limit, so that the variator is prevented from going beyond the limits. The invention is particularly suited to use with transmissions which provide two regimes and a synchronous change between them.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of operating a motor vehicle powertrain comprising an infinitely variable transmission and an engine. The transmission comprises a rotary transmission input coupled to the engine, a rotary transmission output coupled to the vehicle wheels, a variator which provides a continuously variable ratio (the “variator ratio”), and gearing for coupling the variator between the engine and the transmission output in such a manner that the ratio of transmission output speed to transmission input speed (the “reciprocal transmission ratio”) is a function of the variator ratio. The available range of variator ratios maps onto both forward and reverse reciprocal transmission ratios, and at a particular variator ratio (the “geared neutral ratio”) the transmission output is stationary despite its being coupled through the transmission to the rotating transmission input.

Abstract: In a continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) using a toroidal-race continuously variable ratio device and a planetary gear mechanism, the rotation of the input shaft (12) is directly transmitted to the carrier C of the planetary gear mechanism (61), and rotation resulting from gearing and reversal by the variator (5) is transmitted to the sun gear (S1). When the low clutch L is engaged, the rotation of the ring gear (R3) is transmitted via the reversing gear mechanism (71) to the output shaft (13), and when the high clutch H is engaged, the rotation of the sun gear (S2) is transmitted to the output shaft (13).

Abstract: A two-regime CVT for a tracked vehicle steered by differential movement of its tracks, comprising two ratio-varying units of the toroidal-race, rolling-traction type, which drive the vehicle without steer when their outputs are the same, but with steer when those outputs differ. Each such output is connected respectively by way of a steering epicyclic gear set to the drive of one of the tracks. According to one aspect of the invention the axes of the two variators and of the inputs from them to the two steering epicyclics are all coaxial, and may also be coaxial with the input to a third epicyclic gear set operable to change the transmission between its two regimes.