US Patent 7273433 Continuously variable transmission

A constant mesh gear driven continuously variable transmission including a minimum of two cones in mesh with either an axial sliding ring gear or an axial sliding circular gear. The cones and ring gear or circular gear are enclosed in a housing. An input shaft is journaled in the housing. The cones rotate about their own axes and revolve about the shaft in some embodiments. The ring gear or axial sliding circular gear is slidable axially relative to the cone gear, and the output gear ratio is varied by the axial position on the ring gear or sliding circular gear.