Patent ID: 9133924
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A transmission operable in a plurality of operating modes, the transmission comprising: an input shaft configured to receive torque from a drive unit and transmit the torque to an output shaft of the transmission, a plurality of gearsets arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft and including a first planetary gearset coupled to the input shaft and a second planetary gearset coupled to the input shaft, a variable-ratio unit coupled to the second planetary gearset and configured to receive a power load, and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms including a first clutch and a variator bypass clutch, the first clutch engageable to couple the first planetary gearset to the second planetary gearset to define a first power path therebetween, and the variator bypass clutch engageable to bypass the variable-ratio unit so that power transmitted along the first power path is transmitted to the variator bypass clutch rather than the variable-ratio unit, wherein the power load received by the variable-ratio unit is reduced in at least one operating mode when (i) the first clutch is engaged and (ii) the variator bypass clutch is engaged.