Patent ID: 8540596

Claim:
A variable transmission machine, comprising: an input drive which is rotatable at a first speed about an input axis, the input drive including an input shaft which is rotatable about the input axis; an idler which is rotatably mounted to the input shaft; a first swing arm which is mounted for limited pivotal movement about the input axis; a first drive sprocket on the first swing arm, a second swing arm which is mounted for limited pivotal movement about the input axis; a second drive sprocket on the second swing arm, the drive chain being engaged with the first and second drive sprockets and passing over the idler; an output drive which is rotatable at a second speed, which is dependent on the first speed, about an output axis; a gear assembly which, upon rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the first and second drive sprockets, thereby to cause rotation of the output drive; a drive chain which transfers rotational drive from the input drive to the output drive; a controller which is operable to vary the second speed; a cam arrangement which, in response to rotation of the output drive, is oscillated between first and second positions through a reference position; and an actuating mechanism which is selectively operable when the cam arrangement is at the first position to cause operation of the controller so as to increase the second speed by an increment, and which is selectively operable when the cam arrangement is at the second position to cause operation of the controller so as to decrease the second speed by an increment.