# US 8,771,133 B2 · Drive mechanism for infinitely variable transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,133 B2 - Document ID: US8771133B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/376,699 - Filed: 2007-07-31 - Published: 2011-12-08 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-07 - Assignees: Torotrak (Development) Limited - Applicants: Christopher J. Greenwood; Andrew D. De Freitas; Robert A. Oliver - Inventors: Christopher J. Greenwood; Andrew D. De Freitas; Robert A. Oliver - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771133B2 ## CPC - F16H 15/38: with two members B having hollow toroid surfaces opposite to each other, the member or members A being adjustably mounted between the surfaces - F16H 37/086: {CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member} - F16H 63/067: {mechanical actuating means} - F16H 2037/088: {Power-split transmissions with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A variator transmission comprises an input shaft (18), an input disc (10) mounted on the input shaft for rotation therewith and an output disc (12) facing the input disc and arranged to rotate coaxially therewith, the input and output discs defining between them a toroidal cavity. Two rollers (14, 16) are located in the toroidal cavity and first and second roller carriage means are provided upon which the first and second rollers respectively are rotatably mounted and end load means (34, 36) urge the rollers into contact with the input and output discs to transmit drive. The two roller carriage means are mounted on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of a lever (50) and the pivotal axis of the lever (50) is movable in both the radial and non-radial directions with respect to the rotational axis of the input and output discs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variator transmission comprising: a housing; an input shaft; an input disc mounted on the input shaft for rotation therewith; an output disc facing the input disc and arranged to rotate coaxially therewith, the input and output discs defining between them a toroidal cavity; two rollers located in the toroidal cavity; first and second roller carriage means upon which the first and second rollers respectively are rotatably mounted; end load means to urge the rollers into contact with the input and output discs to transmit drive; lever means having a pivotal axis, the two roller carriage means being mounted on the lever means on opposite sides of the pivotal axis; and pivoting means for pivoting the lever means about the pivotal axis; whereby the pivotal axis of the lever means is movable in the radial direction with respect to the rotational axis of the input and output discs and also has a component of movement in a non-radial direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting means comprises an elongate recess in the lever means, engageable with a projection which is fixed with respect to the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projection comprises a pivot pin fixed with respect to the housing, on which a slider block is pivotally mounted, the slider block being engaged with the recess in the lever means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 3, wherein the width of the slider block is substantially the same as the width of the recess. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recess in the lever means comprises a slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal axis of the lever means is movable through a predetermined distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting means for pivoting the lever means about the pivotal axis comprises an arm portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pivot means between each roller carriage means and the lever means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pivot means comprises a spherical joint. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input shaft and the output disc form the inputs of a mixing epicyclic gear train. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mixing epicyclic gear train is arranged coaxially with respect to the input shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 10, further comprising reduction gear means connected to the output of the mixing epicyclic gear train. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end load means comprises resiliently deformable means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 13, wherein the end load means comprises only resiliently deformable means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 13, wherein the resiliently deformable means extends between a transmission housing and one of the input and output discs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A variator transmission as claimed in claim 15, wherein the resiliently deformable means comprises a spring.