Speed variator having friction elements

In a speed variator comprising a housing, a first shaft having a first axis of rotation, a second shaft which is parallel to the first shaft and mounted in the housing and has a second axis of rotation, a clamping plate axially slidably mounted in the housing and coaxial with the second shaft, a cylinder integral with the clamping plate, an assembly of friction elements cosisting of a first single series of said friction elements coaxial with and connected to rotate with the first shaft and a second single series of said friction elements coaxial with the second shaft and slidably keyed in said cylinder, the first series of friction elements being interposed between and clampable between the second series of friction elements, said assembly of friction elements having a first end and a second end which second end is opposed to said first end and adjacent the clamping plate, means for varying the distance between the two shafts transversely of the shafts, and a coupling device for coupling the clamping plate to the second shaft and rendering the clamping force exerted by the clamping plate on the friction elements proportional to the torque transmitted to the second shaft and comprising two sets of cooperative conjugate ramps contained in a general plane parallel to said given transverse plane and respectively associated with the clamping plate and the second shaft, said clamping plate being rotatable relative to the second shaft to an extent sufficient to allow relative rotary movement between and operation of said two sets of cooperative conjugate ramps, support means carried by and supported by the housing axially of the second shaft supportingly engaging said first end of said friction elements, said clamping plate engaging said friction elements at said second end of said friction elements substantially in a given transverse plane;

• the improvement comprising two bearing means which are spaced apart axially of said clamping plate and located axially on opposite sides of said given transverse plane for guiding the clamping plate in the housing, a ring coaxial with the clamping plate and carrying one of said sets of ramps, and a connecting part which is coaxial with said clamping plate and said ring and interconnects the ring and clamping plate, said connecting part being capable of bending between said clamping plate and said ring under the conditions of operations of the variator to accommodate possible lack of parallelism between said given transverse plane and said general plane.