A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for vehicles

Claim 2

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for vehicles comprising: an input shaft and an output shaft; first torque transmitting gear means alternatively connectable with said input shaft and said output shaft; a countershaft connected to said first torque transmitting gear means; a variable V-belt and pulley assembly one end of which is connected to said countershaft; and second torque transmitting gear means connected to an opposite end of said variable V-belt and pulley assembly and alternatively connectable with said input shaft and said output shaft such that torque transmission from said input shaft to said output shaft occurs via a first route through said first torque transmitting gear means, said countershaft, said variable V-belt and pulley assembly and said second torque transmitting gear means and via a second route through said second torque transmitting gear means, said variable V-belt and pulley assembly, said countershaft and said first torque transmitting gear means.

Claim 3

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said first torque transmitting gear means further comprises a first gear, a second gear and a chain connected to said first and second gear.

Claim 4

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to claim 2, further comprising means for connecting said first gear with said input shaft, wherein said chain is connected to said first gear and to one end portion of said countershaft and wherein said second gear is connected to said first gear and is connectable with said output shaft.

Claim 5

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 to 3, wherein said second torque transmitting gear means further comprises an intermediate shaft one end of which is connected to an end of variable V-belt opposite said one end and said pulley assembly, a third gear carried by said intermediate shaft and a fourth gear connected to said third gear and connectable with said output shaft.

Claim 6

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 to 4 further comprising: first clutch means for engaging said input shaft with said first gear; second clutch means for engaging said input shaft with an end opposite said one end of said intermediate shaft; third clutch means for engaging said output shaft with said fourth gear; and fourth clutch means for engaging said output shaft with said second gear.

Claim 7

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having an engine comprising: an input shaft operatively connected to said engine; an output shaft; first gear means engageable with said input shaft; first clutch means disposed between said input shaft and first gear means for engagement of said first gear.means and said input shaft; a chain connected to said first gear means; a countershaft connected to said chain; a variable V-belt and pulley assembly one end of which is connected to said countershaft; second gear means connected to said first gear means; an intermediate shaft one end of which is connected to an end opposite said one end of said variable V-belt and pulley assembly; third gear means carried by said intermediate shaft; second clutch means disposed between said input shaft and an end opposite said one end of said intermediate shaft for interconnecting said intermediate shaft and said input shaft; fourth gear means connected to said third gear means; third clutch means disposed between said output shaft and said fourth gear means for coupling said output shaft to said fourth gear means fourth clutch means disposed between said second gear means and said output shaft for coupling said second gear means to said output shaft; clutch control means for controlling said first, second, third and fourth clutch means; and pulley actuator control means for variably changing the effective diameter of said V-belt.

Claim 8

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having an engine comprising: an input shaft operatively connected to said engine; an output shaft; first gear means engageable with said input shaft; first clutch means disposed between said input shaft and first gear means for engagement of said first gear.means and said input shaft; a chain connected to said first gear means; a countershaft connected to said chain; a variable V-belt and pulley assembly one end of which is connected to said countershaft; second gear means connected to said first gear means; an intermediate shaft one end of which is connected to an end opposite said one end of said variable V-belt and pulley assembly; third gear means carried by said intermediate shaft; second clutch means disposed between said input shaft and an end opposite said one end of said intermediate shaft for interconnecting said intermediate shaft and said input shaft; fourth gear means connected to said third gear means; third clutch means disposed between said output shaft and said fourth gear means for coupling said output shaft to said fourth gear means fourth clutch means disposed between said second gear means and said output shaft for coupling said second gear means to said output shaft; clutch control means for controlling said first, second, third and fourth clutch means; and pulley actuator control means for variably changing the effective diameter of said V-belt.

Claim 9

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having an engine comprising: an input shaft operatively connected to said engine; an output shaft; first gear means carried by said input shaft; second gear means engageable with said first gear means; chain means connected to said second gear means; a countershaft connected to said chain means; a variable V-belt and pulley assembly one end of which is connected to said countershaft an intermediate shaft one end of which is connected to an end opposite said one end of said variable V-belt and pulley assembly; third gear means connected to the other end of said intermediate shaft; fourth gear means carried by said input shaft and engageable with said third gear means; and fifth gear means carried by said output shaft and alternatively engageable with other said third gear means of said second gear means.

Claim 10

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having an engine comprising: an input shaft operatively connected to said engine; an output shaft; first gear means carried by said input shaft; second gear means engageable with said first gear means; chain means connected to said second gear means; a countershaft connected to said chain means; a variable V-belt and pulley assembly one end of which is connected to said countershaft an intermediate shaft one end of which is connected to an end opposite said one end of said variable V-belt and pulley assembly; third gear means connected to the other end of said intermediate shaft; fourth gear means carried by said input shaft and engageable with said third gear means; and fifth gear means carried by said output shaft and alternatively engageable with other said third gear means of said second gear means.

Claim 11

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 to 5, further comprising clutch means disposed between said input shaft and said output shaft for slippingly engaging said input shaft and said output shaft for vehicle starting.

Claim 12

A variable V-belt type continuously variable transmission according to claim 1 to 5 and 8, means comprising clutch means operatively connected to said input shaft for slippingly engaging said input shaft with said engine for vehicle starting.