Controller for varying gear ratios in transmission system

A continuously variable transmission system for an engine, the continuously variable transmission system comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one planetary gear train disposed within the housing;
• a controller including:
• a ratio control gear set including:
• a sun gear;
• a planet carrier including one or more planet gears meshed with the sun gear, the planet carrier configured to rotatably connect to an output shaft of the engine;
• and
• a ring gear meshed with the planet gears and a sun gear of the planetary gear train;
• and
• a ratio control pump including:
• a body configured to rigidly connect to the housing;
• and
• a rotor rigidly coupled to the sun gear of the ratio control gear set and configured to co-act with the body to pump fluid;
• and
• a relief valve connected to the ratio control pump and configured to restrict fluid egress from the ratio control pump.

A method of continuously varying a gear ratio in a transmission system coupled to an engine and including at least one planetary gear train disposed within a housing, the method comprising:

• meshing a ring gear of a ratio control gear set with a sun gear of the planetary gear train;
• rigidly coupling a rotor of a ratio control pump to a sun gear of the ratio control gear set;
• rigidly connecting a body of the ratio control pump to the housing;
• driving a planet carrier of the ratio control gear set and a ring gear of the planetary gear train such that the rotor co-acts with the body to pump fluid;
• and
• restricting fluid egress from the ratio control pump.