Transmission for a vehicle having an electromagnetic variator

A transmission for a vehicle having a power source, the transmission comprising:

• an input member for receiving power from the power source;
• an output member for outputting power to at least one component of the vehicle;
• at least one power split gear set having a plurality of members and operatively connected between said input member and said output member;
• and
• an electromagnetic variator having a stator, an outer rotor, and an inner rotor;
• wherein the inner rotor is at least partially received in the outer rotor and the electromagnetic variator is configured to provide variable torque transmission ratios between the outer rotor and the inner rotor;
• wherein said inner and outer rotors are each operatively connectable to different ones of said plurality of members of said power split gear set and are each operatively connectable to the input member to be driven thereby;
• wherein the transmission is operable according to a plurality of operating modes, each operating mode being marked by individual operative connections and operative disconnections between each of the inner and outer rotors and the plurality of members of said planetary gear set as well as between each of the inner and outer rotors and the input member;
• wherein the operating modes comprise at least one of the following:
• a first operating mode in which the input member is operatively connected to the inner rotor via a member of the power split gear set and torque received by the inner rotor is at least partially converted into torque output by the outer rotor, wherein the outer rotor is connected to the output member via another member of the power split gear set;
• a second operating mode in which the input member is operatively connected to the outer rotor via a member of the power split gear set and torque received by the outer rotor is at least partially converted into torque output by the inner rotor, wherein the inner rotor is connected to the output member via another member of the power split gear set;
• a third operating mode in which the input member is operatively connected to the inner rotor independently of the power split gear set and torque received by the inner rotor is at least partially converted into torque output by the outer rotor, wherein the outer rotor is connected to the output member via a member of the power split gear set that is different from a member of the power split gear set to which the output member is connected;
• and
• a fourth operating mode in which the input member is operatively connected to the outer rotor independently of the power split gear set and torque received by the outer rotor is at least partially converted into torque output by the inner rotor, wherein the inner rotor is connected to the output member via a member of the power split gear set that is different from a member of the power split gear set to which the output member is connected;
• and
• wherein at least the first operating mode and the fourth operating mode are provided and the first operating mode is activated within a lower range of output speeds than the fourth operating mode.