Continuously variable gearbox

Abstract

A steplessly variable transmission has an input body rotatable about an input-element axis and an output body rotatable about an output-body axis and movable between a position with the axes coaxial and a position with the axes substantially parallel and offset from each other. An annular formation on one of the bodies is centered on the axis of the one body. A plurality of guides rotationally coupled to the other of the body are angularly equispaced about the axis of the other body. Respective control elements displaceable in the guides and angularly coupled to the other body are each displaceable relative to the other body between a torque-transmitting position engaging the annular formation and rotationally coupling the bodies and a no-load position disengaged from and out of contact with the formation. A controller is selectively engageable with the control elements for displacing same between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.