Continuously variable speed transmission for motor vehicles

Claim 1

A continuously variable speed transmission for motor vehicles comprising: a first shaft; a second shaft parallel to said first shaft; an intermediate shaft disposed side by side and parallel to said first shaft and arranged coaxial with and surrounding said second shaft; a first variable pitch pulley fixedly mounted to said first shaft for rotation therewith; a second variable pitch pulley fixedly mounted to said intermediate shaft for rotation therewith; an endless belt interconnecting said first and second variable pitch pulleys, said pulleys and belt comprising a belt type continuously variable change ratio device; a forward-drive planetary gear mechanism of a single planetary pinion type disposed on one side of said second variable pitch pulley and mounted on said intermediate shaft and subject to interconnecting said intermediate shaft and said second shaft; a reverse-drive planetary gear mechanism of a single planetary pinion type disposed on the other side of said second variable pitch pulley and mounted on said intermediate shaft and subject to interconnecting said intermediate shaft and said second shaft; and an individual control means provided for each of said forward and reverse drive planetary gear mechanisms for selectively interrupting the rotational transmission of the associated planetary gear mechanism between said intermediate shaft and said second shaft, whereby forward and reverse rotations are selectively provided at said second shaft.