Patent ID: 8882626

Claim:
A multi-regime, continuously variable ratio transmission (CVT) comprising: a transmission input shaft; a transmission output shaft; a ratio varying unit having a rotating input and a rotating output, the rotational axes of the input and the output being coaxial; a shunt including first and second epicyclic gear sets connected across the ratio varying unit, the first epicyclic gear set including a first input driven by the transmission input shaft and a second input driven by a first side of the ratio varying unit and the second epicyclic gear set including a first input from the first epicyclic gear set and a second input from a second side of the ratio varying unit, the first and second epicyclic gear sets being mounted on a common shaft rotating about a common axis, wherein the common shaft is offset with respect to, and parallel to, the rotational axes of the input and output of the ratio varying unit, wherein the first and second epicyclic gear sets are offset radially from and parallel to the ratio varying unit and are at least substantially within a longitudinal profile of the ratio varying unit; and a clutch for selectively connecting an output of the second epicyclic gear set to the transmission output shaft.