Continuously-variable ratio transmission

A continuously-variable ratio transmission capable of operating in first and second operating regimes and including:

• first and second parts;
• said first part comprising a variator, including a ratio-varying unit;
• said variator having an input connectable to a prime mover, and an output;
• said second part including gearing and having an input and an output, said second part input being connected both to said first part input and to said first part output;
• a final output member of said transmission;
• said second part output being connected to said final output member;
• said gearing of said second part including first and second epicyclic combinations, to be referred to as a reversing epicyclic (ER) and a mixing epicyclic (EM) respectively, ER and EM each respectively comprising a sun member, a planet carrier and an annulus;
• a common axis along which are disposed in sequence said input to and said output of said variator, said reversing epicyclic and then said mixing epicyclic followed by said final output member of said transmission;
• a clutch;
• said planet carrier of EM being connected to said final output member and also, by way of said clutch, to said sun of ER and also to said variator output;
• said variator input being directly connected to said sun of EM;
• said annulae of EM and ER being mounted in common;
• a brake, said planet carrier of ER being directly connected to said brake;
• whereby said transmission is capable of operating so that in said first regime said clutch is disengaged and said brake engaged, and the motion of said final output member reflects the motion of said planet carrier of EM in response to inputs from both said sun of EM and said sun of ER, and in said second regime said brake is disengaged and said clutch engaged and said final output member moves at the speed of said variator output, being connectable to said variator output by way of said clutch and said planet carrier of EM.