Transmission assembly with integrated CVP

A method of manufacturing a powertrain for a work vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing an engine, a continuously variable power source (CVP), and an output shaft;
• providing a transmission assembly configured to operably connect the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission assembly configured to provide selection between a plurality of transmission modes in which the transmission assembly transmits power from at least one of the engine and the CVP to the output shaft, the transmission assembly including:
• an input arrangement defining an input axis and having at least one input transmission component that is supported for rotation about the input axis, the engine connected to the input arrangement and configured to input engine power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component, the CVP connected to the input arrangement and configured to input CVP power thereto for rotating the at least one input transmission component;
• a variator defining a variator axis and including:
• a planetary gear set at least partially supported for selective rotation about the variator axis and arranged to have a first gear set side and a second gear set side, and
• a variator shaft supported for rotation about the variator axis and extending through the planetary gear set, the variator shaft having a first variator shaft side proximate to or extending beyond the first gear set side of the planetary gear set and a second variator shaft side proximate to or extending beyond the second gear set side of the planetary gear set,
• wherein the first gear set side and the first variator shaft side define a first variator side, and the second gear set side and the second variator shaft side defining a second variator side;
• a countershaft arrangement defining a countershaft axis and including at least one countershaft component that is supported for rotation about the countershaft axis, the countershaft arrangement configured to receive combined power from the variator for rotating the at least one countershaft component;
• and
• an output arrangement defining an output axis and including at least one output component connected to the output shaft, the output arrangement configured to receive the combined power from the countershaft arrangement to drive the output shaft in rotation about the output axis;
• and
• arranging the transmission assembly and the CVP such that the transmission assembly is configured to operate in at least one of the plurality of transmission modes in which the variator receives the engine power and the CVP power on a common side of the first and second variator sides via the input arrangement and to output combined power;
• wherein the CVP includes a first continuously variable machine (CVM) and a second CVM,
• wherein the arranging step includes arranging the transmission assembly within a transmission assembly housing and arranging the first CVM and the second CVM substantially within the transmission assembly housing,
• wherein the providing the transmission assembly step includes providing the transmission assembly such that, in at least one of the plurality of transmission modes, the input arrangement is configured to provide a first portion of the engine power to the first CVM, the first CVM provides electrical power to the second CVM, and the second CVM provides the CVP power;
• the input arrangement includes an input shaft extending along the input axis, a first clutch and a second clutch supported about the input shaft, and a third clutch supported about the variator shaft;
• and the input arrangement further includes a first gear fixed to a first CVM shaft of the first CVM, a second gear fixed to a second CVM shaft of the second CVM, a third gear fixed to the second clutch and enmeshed with the first gear, and a fourth gear fixed to the first clutch and enmeshed with the second gear, and
• wherein the arranging step includes arranging the transmission assembly and the CVP such that the first portion of the engine power to the first CVM is transmitted through the third and first gears to the first CVM, at least a portion of CVP power is transmitted to the variator through the second and fourth gears, and a second portion of the engine power is transferred to the variator shaft across at least one member of the third clutch.