Importance

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Abstract

A multi-range continuously variable power transmission system having a rotatable system input shaft (52) and a rotatable system output shaft (72), a continuously variable transmission unit (CVT) (14) having CVT input (52) and CVT output shaft (54), a four shaft compound planetary gear power splitter (73) having a first shaft (78) driven by the system input shaft, a second shaft (80) driven by the CVT output shaft a third shaft (84) and a fourth shaft (86) and a multi-range output gear box (75) for driving the system output shaft. The gear box is in the form of a planetary gear set having a carrier shaft (87) eccentric with respect to and connected to the system output shaft (72), sun gear (89) and a grounded ring gear (90). Control means (77) in the form of a plurality of clutches (C1, C2, C3, C4) and at least one heat dissipating friction clutch (D1) is provided for connecting the third and fourth shafts of the splitter to the gear box in a manner to effect four synchronous ranges of system speed, each of such ranges being continuously variable by shuttling the CVT ratio between its extreme ratios. The heat dissipating friction clutch (D1) releasably grounds the gear box ring gear and operates as a starting device to increase the speed of the system output shaft from 0 up to lowest output/input speed of the transmission system.

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First Claim