Abstract: A vehicle drive system comprising a source of rotational energy, a flywheel, continuously variable transmission apparatus comprising first and second drive terminals, and apparatus for selectable coupling of the variable transmission apparatus and the source of rotational energy to said flywheel and drive wheels in a vehicle and including first apparatus for coupling in a first mode of operation, the flywheel and the source of rotational energy to the first drive terminal, and the second drive terminal to the drive wheels of a vehicle, and second apparatus for coupling in a second mode of operation, the flywheel to the second drive terminal, the rotational energy source and the first drive terminal to the drive wheels, and control apparatus for governing the operation of the continuously variable transmission apparatus and the operation of the source of rotational energy and being capable of independent control of the speed of the flywheel and of the source of rotational energy.

Abstract: A drive system for a high-inertia load, such as a motor vehicle including a fly-wheel, comprises a prime-mover for setting the high-inertia body into motion and for maintaining the motion thereof during the operation of the drive system, a driven device driven by the high-inertia body, a bi-directional variable speed unit coupling the high-inertia body to the driven device for controlling its speed during the operation of the drive system such that when the driven device is accelerating it draws energy from the high-inertia body, and when it is decelerating it returns energy to the high-inertia body, and a control system automatically controlling the prime-mover to supply sufficient energy to the high-inertia body to make up for losses. Two types of control systems are described, one being energy-responsive, and the other being power-responsive.