Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission (CVT), comprising:

• an input shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• a main planetary gear assembly comprising:
• a main sun gear coupled and rotatable with the input shaft about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• a main carrier;
• and
• a main ring gear;
• a secondary planetary gear assembly comprising:
• a secondary sun gear coupled and rotatable with the input shaft about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• a secondary carrier;
• and
• a secondary ring gear coupled and rotatable with the main carrier about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• an eccentric gear set comprising:
• a first gear mounted in a bearing unit, the first gear coupled and rotatable with the secondary carrier about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• and
• a second gear mounted within and meshed with the first gear, the second gear smaller than the first gear, the second gear rotatable with the first gear about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft;
• a vane coupling mechanism comprising:
• a rotatable outer chamber coupled and rotatable with the input shaft about the longitudinal axis of the input shaft, the rotatable outer chamber comprising a cam ring disposed between two seal plates and two inlet/outlet ports in fluid communication with the rotatable outer chamber, the two inlet/outlet ports further connected in fluid communication with each other via a fluid passageway, the rotatable outer chamber filled with hydraulic fluid;
• a control valve mounted on the fluid passageway, the control valve configured to control hydraulic fluid flow within the fluid passageway by opening/closing the fluid passageway;
• and
• an inner rotor coaxially disposed within the cam ring, the inner rotor coupled and rotatable with the second gear;
• an output shaft coupled and rotatable with the main ring gear;
• and
• a controller coupled with the control valve, the controller configured to change a valve position of the control valve, the valve position comprising a position between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.