Patent ID: 7878935

Claim:
A continuously variable transmission, comprising: (a) at least one external, three-dimensional cam; (b) at least four follower assemblies, each of the follower assemblies comprising a planet pulley, a roller shaft, and at least one follower roller, the roller shaft being mounted on the planet pulley of the same follower assembly, the roller shaft being connected to the at least one follower roller; (c) at least two sun assemblies, each of the sun assemblies comprising a sun pulley, at least one sprag clutch, and a differential pulley, the differential pulley being mounted to the sun pulley of the same sun assembly, the sun pulley driving the at least one sprag clutch of the same sun assembly; (d) an input assembly comprising a sun pulley shaft, the sun pulley shaft being connected to the at least two sun pulley assemblies through the respective sprag clutches; and (e) at least one differential mechanism connecting each of the sun pulleys to at least two of the planet pulleys; wherein the cam is external to the follower assemblies.