Variable pulley transmission
First Claim
1. A transmission mechanism comprising an input shaft, a continuously variable drive system having an input pulley, an output pulley, and a belt means extending between said pulleys to transfer power, each of said input and output pulleys having an axially fixed sheave and an axially movable sheave, means connecting said fixed sheave of the input pulley to said input shaft, a second shaft, means connecting said fixed sheave of the output pulley to said second shaft, a slippable, fluid-actuated, fluid cooled, starting clutch mounted on said second shaft, a sleeve concentric with, and rotatable with respect to, said second shaft, said sleeve being connected to said clutch, a third shaft, means for providing a driving connection between said second and third shafts including a forward-reverse gear selection means having a forward driving gear and a reverse driving gear connected to said sleeve, and final drive means drivingly connected to said third shaft, said starting clutch, when engaged, connecting the second shaft to said forward-reverse gear selection means, whereby said belt can continuously rotate said pulleys.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention deals with a variable pulley transmission assembly operable between a prime mover and a driven means. The assembly includes input and output pulleys each with a movable sheave, where the pulleys are connected by a flexible belt, a fluid-actuated and fluid cooled starting clutch, a forward-reverse-neutral gear arrangement and a differential drive system connected to the driver means. The system also includes a control system to control the fluid actuated clutch and the movable sheaves. The clutch includes a deeply grooved pattern to provide adequate cooling with low pressure oil before its return to sump. This assembly provides a slippable clutch that acts analogously to a fuse under certain conditions to avoid excess loads to the belt means and also to provide lower operating pressure limits on the movable sheave maintaining belt tension. The clutch further provides a low end lugging limit slip to thereby avoid "torsionals" being transmitted past the clutch. The invention likewise provides a continuously variable pulley (CVT) transmission that has a ratio range of 5.4 to 1.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A transmission mechanism comprising an input shaft, a continuously variable drive system having an input pulley, an output pulley, and a belt means extending between said pulleys to transfer power, each of said input and output pulleys having an axially fixed sheave and an axially movable sheave, means connecting said fixed sheave of the input pulley to said input shaft, a second shaft, means connecting said fixed sheave of the output pulley to said second shaft, a slippable, fluid-actuated, fluid cooled, starting clutch mounted on said second shaft, a sleeve concentric with, and rotatable with respect to, said second shaft, said sleeve being connected to said clutch, a third shaft, means for providing a driving connection between said second and third shafts including a forward-reverse gear selection means having a forward driving gear and a reverse driving gear connected to said sleeve, and final drive means drivingly connected to said third shaft, said starting clutch, when engaged, connecting the second shaft to said forward-reverse gear selection means, whereby said belt can continuously rotate said pulleys.
Specification