Variator and variator shaft

A variator for a transmission, the variator receiving input power from at least two power sources and providing variable speed output power paths for the transmission, comprising:

• a variator shaft operably receiving input power from first power source and a second power source, wherein the variator shaft comprising a first end and a second end, and
• a planetary gear assembly receiving the input power from the variator shaft, and comprising a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a ring gear, wherein the ring gear meshedly engages with a high output gear assembly that is carried by a high output carrier, wherein the sun gear comprises a spur gear that meshedly engages with a sun drive gear engaged with the variator shaft, and wherein the spur gear comprises a double reverse-tapered spline on the gear teeth that operably generates a net thrust force toward the first end of the variator shaft;
• a lubrication pin disposed radially inward from, and in engagement with, the respective planet gears, wherein the lubrication pin comprising a channel providing pressurized lubrication from an inner portion of a variator to the planet gears;
• and
• a ring gear retention key disposed in a key slot in a spur gear of the high output gear assembly, wherein the retention key is held in place with a retention pin disposed in a pin channel in the spur gear of the high output gear assembly, wherein the retention key comprises a dorsal portion that operably extends above a surface of the spur gear of the high output gear assembly, wherein the dorsal portion is configured to be slidably disposed in a key channel in an inner circumference of the ring gear to align the ring gear during rotation.