Variable Transmission on cars
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It’s an interesting combination of the input and output drives and the linkage. My brother in law has such a vehicle, but instead of utilizing the CVT, there is an electrical setting that emulates, or mimics a geared transmission.
See the image in the link below. The input system forms a wedge; the linkage is wedge-shaped; the output is similarly a wedge. By controlling where the linkage rides on the input wedge, and on the output wedge, you have the balance between Power vs Speed.
The equivalent of 1st gear, you want the output RPM to be greatly reduced from the input. This might be a ratio of 5:1, for every 5 rotations of the engine, the drive shaft rotates once. This helps get all of the mass moving.
Second gear might have a ratio of 3.5:1. Third gear maybe 2:1. Fourth gear might be 1:1. Fifth gear might be 1:3 (over drive). At each increment, you’re trading power for speed.
A CVT car skips those increments and simply progresses smoothly between power and speed.
BTW: Consider the M-1 Abrams tank. It uses a jet engine to move. I can only imagine that the initial gearing needed to get those 55 tons moving (110,000 lbs!!) Is something like 20:1–4.3:1. I’m sure an Abrams technician can correct me.
https://repairpal.com/what-is-cvt-transmission
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