Torotrak (Development) Limited

Torotrak Limited

David Burt

Christopher John Greenwood

Philip Duncan Winter

The invention is concerned with a continuously variable transmission incorporating a variator of the type having at least two co-axial races (D-D) between which drive is transferred at a continuously variable variator ratio. The variator races are mounted for rotation about a variator shaft (). The transmission has a layshaft () which is laterally separated from the variator shaft. It has two epicyclic gears. A splitter epicyclic () has an input member driven from the transmission input () and two output members arranged respectively to drive the layshaft and the variator shaft. A recirculater epicyclic has first and second input members for coupling respectively to the variator shaft and to the layshaft and a recirculater output member. An arrangement of clutches is provided for selectively engaging any of at least three regimes. In one regime the recirculater output member drives the transmission output. In another the layshaft drives the transmission output. In a third, the variator shaft drives the transmission output. The arrangement of the components is such that the variator shaft is co-axial with the transmission output, the recirculater epicyclic, a first coupling, between the recirculater output member and the transmission output, which serves to drive the transmission output in the first regime, and a second coupling, between the variator shaft and the transmission output, which serves to drive the transmission output in the third above-mentioned regime.

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Chorley, United Kingdom

David Burt