DUAL RANGE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

摘要

An infinitely variable power transmission mechanism for an automotive vehicle comprising driving (72) and driven pulleys drivably connected by a steel belt (142) wherein provision is made for varying the effective pitch diameters of the pulleys and wherein two distinct drive ranges are provided by multiple ratio gearing (204, 212) in the torque delivery path between the driven shaft (150) and the driven pulley and wherein a drive range change can be obtained by controlling selectively each of two friction clutches (184, 186) by means of modulated clutch apply and release pressure for the clutches thereby achieving high fuel economy in an automotive vehicle driveline without sacrificing high start-up torque ratios for high acceleration.