Planetary powertrain configurations with a ball variator continuously variable transmission used as a powersplit

A continuously variable transmission comprising:

• a first rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power;
• a second rotatable shaft coaxial with the first rotatable shaft, the first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft forming a main axis;
• a third rotatable shaft aligned parallel to the main axis;
• a fourth rotatable shaft arranged coaxial with the third rotatable shaft, the third rotatable shaft and the fourth rotatable shaft forming a counter axis;
• a fifth rotatable shaft arranged coaxial to the main axis, the fifth rotatable shaft configured to transmit an output power;
• a variator assembly having a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a plurality of balls, wherein each ball of the plurality of balls has a tiltable axis of rotation, the variator assembly is coaxial with the main axis, the first traction ring assembly is operably coupled to the second rotatable shaft;
• a planetary gear set comprising:
• a sun gear operably coupled to the second rotatable shaft,
• a planet carrier operably coupled to the first rotatable shaft, and
• a ring gear coupled to the second traction ring assembly;
• a first-and-third mode clutch coaxial with, and coupled to, the second rotatable shaft;
• a second-and-fourth mode clutch coaxial with, and coupled to, the second rotatable shaft;
• a first-and-third mode gear set operably coupled to the first-and-third mode clutch, the first-and-third mode gear set operably coupled to the third rotatable shaft;
• a second-and-fourth mode gear set operably coupled to the second-and-fourth mode clutch, the second-and-fourth mode gear set operably coupled to the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a first gear set operably coupled to the third rotatable shaft;
• a second gear set operably coupled to the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a third gear set operably coupled to the third rotatable shaft;
• a fourth gear set operably coupled to the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a first synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the first gear set;
• a second synchronizer clutch operably coupled the second gear set;
• a third synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the third gear set;
• and
• a fourth synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the fourth gear set,
• wherein the first synchronizer clutch, the second synchronizer clutch, the third synchronizer clutch, and the fourth synchronizer clutch are operably coupled to, and coaxial to, the fifth rotatable shaft.

A continuously variable transmission comprising:

• a first rotatable shaft operably coupleable to a source of rotational power;
• a second rotatable shaft coaxial with the first rotatable shaft, the first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft forming a main axis;
• a third rotatable shaft aligned parallel to the main axis;
• a fourth rotatable shaft arranged coaxial to the main axis, the fourth rotatable shaft arranged parallel to the third rotatable shaft;
• a fifth rotatable shaft arranged coaxial with the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a sixth rotatable shaft arranged coaxial with the fifth rotatable shaft, the sixth rotatable shaft configured to transmit an output power;
• a variator assembly having a first traction ring assembly and a second traction ring assembly in contact with a plurality of balls, wherein each ball of the plurality of balls has a tiltable axis of rotation, the variator assembly is coaxial with the main axis, the first traction ring assembly is operably coupled to the second rotatable shaft;
• a planetary gear set comprising:
• a sun gear operably coupled to the second rotatable shaft,
• a planet carrier operably coupled to the first rotatable shaft, and
• a ring gear coupled to the second traction ring assembly;
• a first-and-third mode clutch coaxial with, and coupled to, the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a second-and-fourth mode clutch coaxial with, and coupled to, the fifth rotatable shaft;
• a transfer coupling configured to couple to the second rotatable shaft and the third rotatable shaft;
• a first gear set operably coupled to the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a second gear set operably coupled to the fifth rotatable shaft;
• a third gear set operably coupled to the fourth rotatable shaft;
• a fourth gear set operably coupled to the fifth rotatable shaft;
• a first synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the first gear set;
• a second synchronizer clutch operably coupled the second gear set;
• a third synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the third gear set;
• and
• a fourth synchronizer clutch operably coupled to the fourth gear set,
• wherein the first synchronizer clutch, the second synchronizer clutch, the third synchronizer clutch, and the fourth synchronizer clutch are operably coupled to, and coaxial to, the third rotatable shaft.