Patent ID: 8251863

Claim:
A transmission system, comprising; a central input shaft, having a central axis of rotation, for coupling to a source of rotational motion; and a plurality of continuously variable transmission units coupled with the central input shaft, at least two of which are spaced from one another along the central axis of rotation of the central input shaft, each of the plurality of continuously variable transmission units coupling rotational motion from the central input shaft to a separate one of a plurality of rotating outputs, at least one of the plurality of continuously variable transmission units having a transmission ratio that is adjustable independently from at least one of the other of the continuously variable transmission units; wherein, each of the at least two continuously variable transmission units that are spaced from one another along the central axis of the central input shaft is comprised of a sphere, contacting the central input shaft, for coupling the central input shaft with one of the plurality of rotating outputs, and at least one steering roller in contact with the sphere, the steering angle of the at least one steering roller determining at least in part the transmission ratio of the at least one of the plurality of continuously variable transmission units.