Patent ID: 7201693

Claim:
A transmission comprising: a variator comprising: a plurality of traction rollers distributed radially about a longitudinal axis of the transmission, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates; an input disc in contact with the rollers; an output disc in contact with the rollers; an idler coaxial with and rotatable about the longitudinal axis, the idler in contact with the rollers; a cage adapted to maintain a radial and axial orientation of the rollers about the idler, wherein the cage is further adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the cage comprises: a disc-shaped input stator positioned between the rollers and the input disc; a disc-shaped output stator positioned between the rollers and the output disc; and a plurality of spacers adapted to rigidly connect the stators; and a sound detector sonically coupled to the variator and adapted to pickup signals indicative of slippage; and a signal processing device that receives input from the detectors.