Floating cone continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission comprising a housing, a pair of axially spaced cones rotatably arranged on a shared longitudinal axis of said housing, and at least a pair of spaced apart countershafts relatively rotatable within said housing, said countershafts being mounted within said housing for limited, controlled movement therein, wherein each of said countershafts is adapted to be angularly pivoted within said housing and relative to one another, while axially translatable within said housing;

• each of said countershafts having defined first and second ends contained within said housing, wherein said first end of each countershaft has a greater diameter than said second end;
• said cones being positioned laterally intermediately between said countershafts;
• wherein the greater diameter first ends of said countershafts are adapted to bear against and make rolling contact with one of said intermediately positioned cones, while said smaller diameter second ends of said countershafts are adapted to bear against and make rolling contact with said second cone, wherein said transmission further comprises a tandem CVT arrangement having a third cone also sharing said longitudinal axis with said first and second cones, positioned intermediately of said first and second cones, and juxtaposed axially with the first cone through a set of spacer pilot bearings, and juxtaposed axially against said second cone through a second set of spacer pilot bearings.