Abstract: A continuously variable transmission with coaxial input (from 6) and output (17), capable of operating in at least two regimes, and having a variator (2) of the toroidal-race rolling-traction type, and gearing including both a speed reducing unit (10) and an epicyclic mixing gear unit (15) in which the components of the mixing gear unit are locked up in at least one of the regimes, and in which the speed-reducing unit (10) effects its speed-reduction without reversal of the direction of rotation between its input (1) and output (from 26). The operating axis (5) of the variator (2) may either coincide with the coaxial input and output of the transmission (FIG. 2 ) or be parallel to but displaced from it (FIG. 3 ). In addition to a brake (13) and a clutch (20), operable to engage first and second regimes, a further clutch (48) operable to engage a third regime is shown.

Abstract: A two-regime, continuously-variable-ratio transmission of the toroidal-race rolling-traction type in which the variator (2) reducing epicyclic (10) and mixing epicyclic (15) are all coaxial, in which the driving connection between the variator output and the sun gear (18) of the mixing epicyclic includes a layshaft (23) or the like lying radially outboard of the reducing epicyclic, and avoids the use of a drum-like component which would surround those parts of the variator lying downstream of its output member (8). The invention also facilitates the use of gear units of equal ratio, and indeed of substantially identical structure, for the reversing (10) and mixing (15) epicyclics.