Continuously variable transmission drive pulley

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10066729-B2
Application number	US-201515301025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A drive pulley for a CVT has a fixed sheave, a fixed sheave shaft fixedly connected to the fixed sheave, a movable sheave, a movable sheave shaft fixedly connected to the movable sheave, a spider and at least one centrifugal actuator. The fixed sheave shaft is disposed at least in part inside the movable sheave shaft. The movable sheave is disposed axially between the spider and the fixed sheave. A biasing member biases the movable sheave axially away from the fixed sheave. A torque transfer assembly is operatively connected to at least one of the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The torque transfer assembly transfers torque between the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The biasing member, the at least one centrifugal actuator and the torque transfer assembly are disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission comprising:
a fixed sheave;
a fixed sheave shaft fixedly connected to the fixed sheave,
a movable sheave axially movable relative to the fixed sheave;
a movable sheave shaft fixedly connected to the movable sheave, the fixed sheave shaft being disposed at least in part inside the movable sheave shaft;
a spider axially fixed relative to the fixed sheave and rotationally fixed relative to the movable sheave, the movable sheave being disposed axially between the spider and the fixed sheave;
a biasing member biasing the movable sheave axially away from the fixed sheave, the biasing member being disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts, the movable sheave shaft extending inside the biasing member, and the movable sheave shaft being disposed radially between the fixed sheave shaft and the biasing member;
at least one centrifugal actuator including an arm pivotally connected to one of the movable sheave and the spider, the arm pivoting away from the one of the movable sheave and the spider as a speed of rotation of the drive pulley increases, the arm pushing against another one of the movable sheave and the spider as the arm pivots away from the one of the movable sheave and the spider, thereby moving the movable sheave axially toward the fixed sheave, the at least one centrifugal actuator being disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts; and
a torque transfer assembly operatively connected to at least one of the fixed sheave and the movable sheave, the torque transfer assembly transferring torque between the fixed sheave and the movable sheave, the torque transfer assembly being disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts, the torque transfer assembly comprising at least one roller assembly, the at least one roller assembly comprising:
a roller rotationally connected to one of the movable sheave and the spider and abutting another one of the movable sheave and the spider, the roller rolling along the other one of the movable sheave and the spider as the movable sheave moves axially,
the roller transferring torque between the movable sheave and the fixed sheave, and
the roller being disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

2. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the roller of the at least one roller assembly is a first roller; and
wherein the at least one roller assembly further comprises:
a second roller rotationally connected to the one of the movable sheave and the spider and abutting the other one of the movable sheave and the spider, the second roller rolling along the other one of the movable sheave and the spider as the movable sheave moves axially,
the second roller transferring torque between the movable sheave and the fixed sheave, and
the second roller being disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

3. The drive pulley of claim 2 , wherein for each of the at least one roller assembly the first and second rollers are rotationally connected to the movable sheave.

4. The drive pulley of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one roller assembly further comprises a radially extending axle connected to the movable sheave; and
wherein for each of the at least one roller assembly the first and second rollers are rotationally mounted to the axle and are rotatable about an axis of the axle.

5. The drive pulley of claim 4 , wherein for each of the at least one roller assembly the first and second rollers are slidable along the axle.

6. The drive pulley of claim 4 , wherein for each of the at least one roller assembly:
the spider defines a passage between a first wall and a second wall;
the first and second rollers are disposed in the passage;
the first roller abuts and rolls along the first wall and is spaced from the second wall; and
the second roller abuts and rolls along the second wall and is spaced from the first wall.

7. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the at least one centrifugal actuator is three centrifugal actuators disposed at 120 degrees from each other;
wherein the at least one roller assembly is three roller assemblies disposed at 120 degrees from each other; and
wherein the centrifugal actuators and roller assemblies are arranged in an alternating arrangement and are disposed at 60 degrees from each other.

8. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the arm of the at least one centrifugal actuator abuts a roller rotationally connected to the other one of the movable sheave and the spider.

9. The drive pulley of claim 1 , further comprising a damper connecting the fixed sheave shaft to the spider,
the damper transferring torque between the fixed sheave shaft and the spider, and
the torque transfer assembly transferring torque between the spider and the movable sheave.

10. The drive pulley of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first ring connected to the fixed sheave shaft; and
a second ring connected to the spider, the second ring being disposed axially between the first ring and the movable sheave;
wherein the damper is connected between the first and second rings and is disposed axially between the first and second rings.

11. The drive pulley of claim 10 , wherein the damper is annular and is disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

12. The drive pulley of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bushing disposed radially between the fixed and movable sheave shafts,
the at least one bushing abutting the fixed and movable sheave shafts,
the at least one bushing being axially fixed relative to the movable sheave shaft, and
the at least one bushing being axially movable relative to the fixed sheave shaft.

13. The drive pulley of claim 12 , wherein the at least one bushing comprises a first bushing disposed adjacent a first end of the movable sheave shaft and a second bushing disposed adjacent a second end of the movable sheave shaft; and
wherein the movable sheave shaft extends between the first and second bushings.

14. The drive pulley of claim 13 , wherein the first bushing, the second bushing, the movable sheave shaft and the fixed sheave shaft define an annular space therebetween, the annular space extending continuously from the first bushing to the second bushing.

15. The drive pulley of claim 13 , wherein:
the first bushing is disposed at least in part axially between ends of the biasing member;
the first bushing is disposed radially between the biasing member and the fixed sheave shaft; and
the second bushing is disposed axially between the biasing member and the fixed sheave.

16. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is disposed at least in part inside the spider.

17. The drive pulley of claim 16 , further comprising:
a fixed spring seat abutting the spider and being axially fixed relative to the fixed sheave shaft; and
a movable spring seat connected to the movable sheave shaft, the movable spring seat being axially fixed relative to the movable sheave shaft and being axially movable relative to the fixed sheave shaft;
wherein the biasing member is a coil spring having a first end abutting the fixed spring seat and a second end abutting the movable spring seat.

18. The drive pulley of claim 17 , wherein the fixed spring seat is disposed axially between the movable spring seat and the fixed sheave.

19. A drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission comprising:
a fixed sheave;
a fixed sheave shaft fixedly connected t

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Aitcin Xavier-Pierre
• Bourgeois Yan

Classifications

• F16H55/54

  of which the bearing parts are radially adjustable · CPC title

• F16H55/56 Primary

  of which the bearing parts are relatively axially adjustable · CPC title

• F16H2055/366

  with means providing resilience or vibration damping · CPC title

• F16H9/14

  using only one pulley built-up out of adjustable conical parts · CPC title

• F16H55/36

  Pulleys (with features essential for adjustment F16H55/52) · CPC title