Patent ID: 8226506

Claim:
A continuously variable transmission with a low shift transmission pulley train, comprising: a continuously variable different-shaft-type transmission device ( 100 ) having a CVT driving pulley and a CVT driven pulley, said CVT driving pulley and CVT driven pulley having a continuously variable speed ratio; and a low shift transmission pulley train ( 102 ) including a low shift driving pulley driven by an input shaft ( 101 ) and a low shift driven pulley connected to an output shaft ( 103 ), said low shift driving pulley connected to a unidirectional transmission device ( 111 ) for engaging said low shift driving pulley with either said input shaft ( 101 ) or said output shaft ( 103 ), unidirectional transmission device ( 111 ) further disengaging said low shift driving pulley from either said input shaft ( 101 ) or said output shaft ( 103 ); wherein said engagement and disengagement for said low shift driving pulley depends on a speed of said low shift driving pulley relative to said input shaft or output shaft such that said low shift transmission pulley train is engaged with said input shaft and said output shaft to drive said load during high load operation, and disengaged from one of said input shaft and output shaft during low load operation, wherein said low shift driven pulley rotate in a same direction and have a fixed speed ratio, and wherein said unidirectional input device ( 111 ) is installed in one of the following two positions: (a) between the input shaft ( 101 ) and the low shift driving pulley; (b) between the low shift driving pulley and the output shaft ( 103 ).