Patent ID: 7431677

Claim:
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising: a longitudinal axis; a first variator unit comprising: a first plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the first plurality of balls arranged on a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a first disc in contact with the first plurality of balls, the first disc configured to be non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis; a first output disc in contact with the first plurality of balls; a first generally cylindrical idler in contact with the first plurality of balls, the first idler located radially inward of the first plurality of balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; and a first rotatable cage adapted to support the first plurality of balls radially and angularly; a second variator unit comprising: a second plurality of balls, each ball having a tiltable axis of rotation, the second plurality of balls arranged on a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second plurality of balls arranged angularly about the longitudinal axis; a second disc in contact with the second plurality of balls, the second disc configured to be non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis; a second output disc in contact with the second plurality of balls; a second generally cylindrical idler in contact with the second plurality of balls, the second idler located radially inward of the second plurality of balls and mounted coaxially about the longitudinal axis; and a second rotatable cage adapted to support the second plurality of balls radially and angularly; and wherein the first and second rotatable cages are coupled to rotate together about the longitudinal axis.