Patent ID: 7670243

Claim:
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising: a longitudinal axis; a plurality of balls distributed radially about the longitudinal axis; a rotatable idler in contact with each of, and radially inward of, the balls; and a first shaft coupled to the idler; an input disc in contact with the plurality of balls; an output disc in contact with the plurality of balls, wherein the plurality of balls is located between the input disc and the output disc, and wherein a contact point between the input disc or output disc and the plurality of balls is radially outward relative to a diameter of the idler; a bearing disc operationally coupled between a second shaft and the input disc; a plurality of perimeter ramps coupled between the bearing disc and the input disc; and the second shaft operationally coupled to the input disc, wherein the plurality of balls, the rotatable idler, and the first shaft are adapted to transmit power and wherein power is transferred from the second shaft to the bearing disc, to the perimeter ramps, to the input disc, to the balls, to the idler, and to the first shaft.