Continuously variable automotive transmission

A continuously variable automotive transmission for transmitting power from an engine to automotive wheels, comprising:

• a fluid torque converter adapted to be connected to the engine and having a turbine shaft;
• driver gear means fixedly mounted on said turbine shaft;
• and
• a fixed ratio reverse and continuously variable ratio forward transmission mechanism including:
• a driver shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said turbine shaft;
• a driver pulley mounted on said driver shaft;
• a driven shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said turbine shaft and driver shaft;
• a driven pulley mounted on said driven shaft;
• a V belt trained around said driver and driven pulleys;
• said driver pulley and driven pulley having means for varying the drive ratio therebetween transmitted through the V belt;
• a forward gear rotatably mounted on said driver shaft and held in mesh with said driver gear means;
• a forward clutch mounted on said driver shaft for selectively connecting and disconnecting said forward gear to and from said driver shaft;
• a reverse gear rotatably mounted on said driven shaft and held in mesh with said driver gear means through an idler gear;
• a reverse clutch mounted on sid driven shaft for selectively connecting and disconnecting said reverse gear to and from said driven shaft;
• and
• said driven shaft continuously coupled through drive means to the automotive wheels for driving the automotive wheels whenever said driven shaft is rotated whereby the reverse driving of the automotive wheels is directly through said drive gear means, said reverse gear, said reverse clutch and said driven shaft without transmitting power through said V belt.