Planetary gear arrangement for a continuously variable transmission

Claim 1

A forward and reversing gear arrangement for a continuously variable transmission comprising: input and output shafts for transmitting power to and from the gearset; a planetary gear unit including a planet pinion carrier connected to the input shaft, a ring gear, a sun gear connected to the output shaft, a first set of planet pinions driveably engaged with the sun gear and rotatably mounted on the carrier, and a second set of planet pinions rotatably mounted on the carrier driveably engaged with the ring gear and with the first set of planet pinions; first and second conical drive surfaces formed on the ring gear; a clutch continuously driveably connected to the carrier, mounted for axial movement toward and away from the ring gear drive surfaces, having a surface adapted to driveably engage one of the ring gear drive surfaces, a first piston moveable within a first chamber, adapted to move the clutch into engagement with the first drive surface of the ring gear as the first chamber is pressurized; a brake continuously driveably connected to the transmission housing, mounted for axial movement toward and away from the ring gear drive surfaces, having a surface adapted to driveably engage the second ring gear drive surface; and a second piston moveable within a second chamber, adapted to move the brake into engagement with the other drive surface of the ring gear as the second chamber is pressurized.