Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input drive member rotatable about an input axis of rotation, the input drive member including an input drive member traction surface;
• an output drive member rotatable about an output axis of rotation, the output drive member including an output drive member traction surface;
• a ring member rotatable about a ring member axis of rotation, the ring member including:
• an input ring traction surface located at an input ring traction surface radial distance from the ring member axis of rotation, the input ring traction surface engaging the input drive member traction surface at an input contact patch oriented perpendicular to a first input contact patch vector length extending from the input contact patch to the input axis of rotation and a second input contact patch vector length extending from the input contact patch to the ring member axis of rotation;
• and
• an output ring traction surface located at an output ring traction surface radial distance from the ring member axis of rotation, the output ring traction surface engaging the output drive member traction surface at an output contact patch oriented perpendicular to a first output contact patch vector length extending from the output contact patch to the output axis of rotation and a second output contact patch vector length extending from the output contact patch to the ring member axis of rotation;
• and
• wherein a sum of the first input contact patch vector length and the first output contact patch vector length is greater than at least one of the second input contact patch vector length and the second output contact patch vector length.

A continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input disk rotatable about a disk axis of rotation, the input disk including an input disk traction surface;
• an output disk rotatable about the disk axis of rotation, the output disk including an output disk traction surface;
• a ring member rotatable about a ring member effective axis of rotation, the ring member comprising:
• an input ring traction surface located at an input ring traction surface radial distance from the input axis of rotation, the input ring traction surface engaging the input disk traction surface at an input contact patch radial distance from the disk axis of rotation;
• and
• an output ring traction surface located at an output ring traction surface radial distance from the output axis of rotation, the output ring traction surface engaging the output disk traction surface at an output contact patch located at an output contact patch radial distance from the disk axis of rotation;
• and
• wherein a sum of the input contact patch radial distance and the output contact patch radial distance is greater than at least one of the input ring traction surface radial distance and the output ring traction surface radial distance.