Reversible continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission, comprising a first driver disc rotatable about a pre-determined transmission axis;

• a second driver disc spaced from the first disc and counter-rotatable about the transmission axis relative to the first driver disc;
• wherein the first driver disc and second driver disc have facing concave surfaces;
• driven roller carrier means rotatable about the transmission axis;
• at least one roller rotatably mounted on an interdisc portion of the roller carrier means for peripheral surface contact with the facing concave surfaces of the driver discs, the roller interacting with the driver discs to drive the roller carrier means so that power can be taken from the roller carrier means;
• and roller tilting means for tilting the axis of rotation of the roller so as to produce a continuous range of roller carrier means speeds including forward, reverse and neutral for a given speed of counterrotation of the first and second driver discs.

A continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• (a) a fully rotatable shaft defining a transmission axis;
• (b) a first driver disc concentric with the shaft and rotatably mounted thereon;
• (c) a second driver disc concentric with the shaft and rotatably mounted thereon, spaced from the first driver disc, and being a mirror mate of the first driver disc;
• (d) wherein the first driver disc and the second driver disc each have facing surfaces of circular symmetry between its hub and its periphery formed as a concave surface of arcuate radial section;
• (e) a driven roller carrier concentric with and rigidly mounted on the shaft between the first disc and the second disc;
• (f) at least two circular rollers of radius equal to the radius of the arcuate radial sections symmetrically mounted on the roller carrier for peripheral surface engagement with the facing concave surfaces of the driver discs;
• (g) wherein the rollers are capable of interacting with the driver discs to drive the roller carrier so that power can be taken therefrom;
• (h) roller tilting means for tilting the axis of rotation of the at least two rollers in the same sense in response to a force directed along the axis of the shaft so as to produce a continuous range of roller carrier speeds including forward, reverse and neutral;
• and
• (i) means for counter-rotating one of the driver discs relative to the other driver disc.