Flat belt continuously variable transmission with geared speed ratio control system

In a continuously variable transmission including:

• (A) first and second pulley assemblies, each said pulley assembly including:
• 1. a shaft;
• 2. a pair of pulley sheaves;
• 3. a series of belt engaging elements, each said belt engaging element having:
• a. an elongated central shank including a drive surface adapted to be engaged by said drive belt;
• b. a first bearing region at a first end of said central shank;
• and
• c. a second bearing region at a second end of said central shank;
• 4. each said pulley sheave including:
• a. a pair of relatively movable guideway disks lying alongside each other in juxtaposition;
• i. an inner guideway disk of each said pair including a first series of guideways extending in one direction;
• ii. an outer guideway disk of each said pair including a second series of guideways extending in a second direction;
• iii. said first and second series of spiral guideways providing intersections for capturing and locating said bearing regions of said belt engaging elements, said intersections providing locations for said bearing regions to establish radial positions of said belt engaging elements with respect to said shaft;
• 5. means connecting said inner guideway disks of said pulley sheaves together to establish an inner guideway disk set which rotates about the axis of said shaft;
• 6. means connecting said outer guideway disks of said pulley sheaves together to establish an outer guideway disk set which rotates about the axis of said shaft;
• 7. means coupling at least one of said guideway disks to said shaft for rotation therewith;
• and
• 8. means for adjusting the angular relationship between said inner guideway disk set and said outer guideway disk set to establish the effective diameter of said pulley assembly;
• and
• (B) a flat drive belt coupling said first and second pulley assemblies;
• the improvement in which said means for adjusting the angular relationship between said inner guideway disk set and said outer guideway disk set of at least one of said pulley assemblies comprises:
• (C) a planetary gear system mechanically disposed intermediate said inner guideway disk set and said outer guideway disk set, said planetary gear system including:
• 1. a first sun gear coupled to said inner guideway disk set;
• 2. a second sun gear coupled to said outer guideway disk set;
• 3. said first and second sun gears being axially aligned;
• 4. a rotatable planet carrier;
• 5. a set of planet gears meshing with one of said first and second sun gears, said planet gears being supported on said planet carrier;
• 6. a set of star gears meshing with the other of said first and second sun gears, each of said star gears being supported in fixed angular position with respect to said other of said first and second sun gears;
• 7. an internal ring gear meshing with said planet gears and said star gears;
• and
• 8. means for selectively changing the angular relationship between said planet carrier and said star gears.