Continuously variable transmission with radial drive

A CVT variator operating in a traction fluid which includes:

• a first disk which is rotatable about a first axis in a first direction and which has a first disk face;
• a second disk, spaced apart from the first disk which is rotatable about the first axis in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and which has a second disk face opposing the first face;
• a drive device which includes a driver with a circular rim and with a central axis, wherein the driver is mounted at a radial distance from the first axis between the first disk face and the second disk face for rotation about the central axis at a first rotational speed;
• a clamping mechanism for urging the disks towards each other so that the circular rim of the driver is frictionally engaged at a contact location with the first disk face and at a second contact location with the second disk face such that a surface of the first disk face at the first contact location is not parallel to the central axis and a surface of the second disk face at the second contact location is not parallel to the central axis;
• whereby, upon rotation of the driver at the first rotational speed, the first disk and the second disk are respectively rotated and produce respective first and second rotational output drives;
• an actuator for varying said radial distance;
• and
• a coupling system which couples together the first and second output drives to produce a combined output drive at a second rotational speed.