Patent ID: 7507175
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A power-branched continuously variable transmission, said transmission comprising: an input shaft and a unitary output shaft, wherein the unitary output shaft is connected with a differential axle to drive motor vehicle wheels; a power divider transmission for dividing an input shaft torque between two torque transmission paths, only one of which paths is connected to the output shaft; a variable speed drive unit positioned between and interconnecting the two torque transmission paths with each other, wherein the variable speed drive unit is a frictionally-engaged, continuously-variable transmission selected from the group consisting of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission, a toroidal variable speed drive unit, and a cone-ring transmission; and a start-up converter positioned in one of the torque transmission paths between the power divider transmission and the variable speed drive unit.