Patent ID: 6203466
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A continuously variable transmission apparatus including an input shaft connected to a drive source, an output shaft connected to a portion to be driven, a toroidal type continuously variable transmission in which an angle of inclination of a power roller sandwiched between an input disc and an output disc is changed to thereby change a transmission gear ratio between said input disc and said output disc, a planetary gear mechanism, a pair of power transmitting mechanisms arranged for connecting the toroidal type continuously variable transmission and the planetary gear mechanism together, and a changeover system operative to change a transmission state between said input shaft and said output shaft among a high-speed running mode, a low-speed running mode and a receding mode, wherein in the low-speed running mode, all motive power between said input shaft and said output shaft is transmitted through said toroidal type continuously variable transmission, and in the high-speed running mode, the motive power is transmitted by said planetary gear mechanism and some of the motive power is circulated to said toroidal type continuously variable transmission through said planetary gear mechanism, characterized in that said toroidal type continuously variable transmission is disposed coaxially with said input shaft, and a central shaft of said planetary gear mechanism is substantially parallel to said input shaft and disposed at an oblique angle from said input shaft with respect to a plane including an axis of said input shaft and a substantially perpendicular axis about which said power roller rotates in a neutral position.