Systems and methods for parallel path variators

A drive system, comprising:

• a gearbox including a first gear driven by a first input shaft, a second gear driven by a second input shaft, and a third gear driven by the first gear and the second gear, the third gear driving an output shaft operatively coupled to an output element;
• a first motor configured to operate at a constant drive speed, the first motor operatively coupled to the first input shaft;
• a second motor configured to operate at a variable drive speed via a variable frequency drive, the second motor operatively coupled to the second input shaft;
• and
• a lock-up clutch coupled to the first input shaft and the second input shaft, wherein the lock-up clutch causes the first gear and the second gear to rotate together according to one of the constant drive speed of the first motor or the variable drive speed of the second motor.

A method of operating a drive system, the method comprising:

• driving a first input shaft with a first motor at a constant drive speed, the first input shaft being operatively coupled to a first gear in a gearbox;
• driving a second input shaft with a second motor at a variable drive speed, the second input shaft being operatively coupled to a second gear in the gearbox, the gearbox combining rotational forces of the first gear and the second gear to drive a third gear in the gearbox, the third gear being operatively coupled to an output shaft;
• and
• driving a compressor with the output shaft at a variable speed, wherein a lock-up clutch is coupled to the first input shaft and the second input shaft, and wherein the lock-up clutch causes the first gear and the second gear to rotate together according to one of the constant drive speed of the first motor or the variable drive speed of the second motor.