Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a first asymmetrical differential, having a transmission input shaft and a first output shaft, aligned along a transmission axis;
• a second asymmetrical differential, having a transmission output shaft and a first input shaft, aligned along the transmission axis;
• a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first output shaft and the first input shaft, rotation of the transmission input shaft at a first input speed and torque being converted into rotation of the transmission output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the transmission output shaft and
• a housing, surrounding and containing the first asymmetrical differential, the second asymmetrical differential, and the reduction gear unit.

A continuously variable transmission, comprising at least one transmission, including a first transmission, each of the at least one transmission having:

• a first asymmetrical differential having an input shaft, an outer output shaft, and an inner output shaft, the inner output shaft and the outer output shaft being coaxial and disposed along a common transmission axis;
• a second asymmetrical differential, having an output shaft, an outer input shaft, and an inner input shaft, the outer input shaft and the inner input shaft being coaxial and disposed along the transmission axis, the inner input shaft being an extension of the inner output shaft;
• and
• a reduction gear unit, having a gear ratio, disposed between the first asymmetrical differential and the second asymmetrical differential, having a reduction gear input coupled to the outer output shaft, and a reduction gear output coupled to the outer input shaft, whereby rotation of the input shaft of the first asymmetrical differential at a first input speed and torque is converted into rotation of the output shaft at a second output speed and torque that varies independently of the first input speed and torque in response to a rotational resistance on the output shaft.

A continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a first asymmetrical differential having a first armature, a plurality of first differential bevel gears rotatably attached to the first armature, a first low speed high torque bevel gear, and a first high speed low torque bevel gear, wherein the first low speed high torque bevel gear and the first high speed low torque bevel gear each intermeshes with the plurality of first differential bevel gears;
• a second asymmetrical differential having a second armature, a plurality of second differential bevel gears rotatably attached to the second armature, a second low speed high torque bevel gear, and a second high speed low torque bevel gear, wherein the first low speed high torque bevel gear and the first high speed low torque bevel gear each intermeshes with the plurality of first differential bevel gears;
• a reduction gear unit, coupled between the first low speed high torque bevel gear and the second low speed high torque bevel gear;
• and
• a high speed shaft passing through openings in the reduction gear unit, the first low speed high torque bevel gear, and the second low speed high torque bevel gear, the first high speed low torque bevel gear and the second high speed low torque bevel gear each being fixedly attached to the high speed shaft.