Continuously variable transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10738875-B2
Application number	US-201715829161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 21, 2016
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission housing including an inner cover and an outer cover that define an interior chamber that is structured and operable to enclose a continuously variable transmission primary pulley, secondary pulley and pulley belt. The housing includes a duct panel mounted to the inner cover such that when the primary pulley is disposed within the interior chamber, the duct panel is disposed between an outer face of the primary pulley and the inner cover. An air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, wherein the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing. The duct panel forms at least a portion of an ambient air inlet of the housing and includes a center opening that structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn through the air duct and into the housing interior chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A duct panel for a continuously variable transmission housing, said panel comprising:
a disc shaped sheave recess defined by an annular sheave face wall and a circumferential sidewall extending from and around an entire periphery of the annular sheave face wall, the disc shaped sheave recess structured and operable to receive at least a portion of an outer face of a static sheave of a primary pulley of a continuously variable transmission disposable within a continuously variable transmission housing, the duct panel mountable to the continuously variable transmission housing to define an air duct between the continuously variable transmission housing and a first side of the annular sheave face wall and define a low pressure gap between a second side of the annular sheave face wall and the outer face of the static sheave; and
a duct center opening disposed within the annular sheave face wall, the duct center opening structured and operable to provide an air flow path between an ambient environment and the low pressure gap when the duct panel is mounted within the continuously variable transmission housing.

2. The duct panel of claim 1 further comprising at least a portion of an air inlet of the continuously variable transmission housing in which the duct panel can be mounted.

3. A continuously variable transmission housing, said housing comprising:
an inner cover having an input shaft opening structured and operable to receive an output shaft of a prime mover of a vehicle in which the transmission can be implemented;
an outer cover connectable to the inner cover to define an interior chamber structured and operable to enclose a continuously variable transmission primary pulley, secondary pulley and pulley belt within the interior chamber,
a duct panel mounted to the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the duct panel and the inner cover, the duct panel comprising:
a disc shaped sheave recess defined by an annular sheave face wall and a circumferential sidewall extending from and around an entire periphery of the annular sheave face wall, the disc shaped sheave recess structured and operable to receive at least a portion of an outer face of a static sheave of a primary pulley of a continuously variable transmission disposable within the housing, the duct panel mounted to the housing such that the air duct is defined between the housing and a first side of the annular sheave face wall and a low pressure gap can be defined between a second side of the annular sheave face wall and the outer face of the static sheave; and
a duct center opening disposed within the annular sheave face wall, the duct center opening structured and operable to provide an air flow path between an ambient environment and the low pressure gap such that ambient air can be drawn into the housing interior chamber.

4. The housing of claim 3 further comprising an ambient air inlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the air duct with ambient air exterior to the housing.

5. The housing of claim 4 wherein the duct panel further comprises at least a portion of ambient air inlet of the continuously variable transmission housing.

6. The housing of claim 3 , wherein the low pressure gap is approximately 0.010 inches to 0.100 inches.

7. The housing of claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises an air exhaust outlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the interior chamber with the ambient air.

8. A continuously variable transmission, said transmission comprising:
a primary pulley operably connectable to an output shaft of a prime mover of a vehicle, the primary pulley comprising:
a primary pulley shaft operably connectable to the prime mover output shaft;
a static sheave fixedly mounted to the primary pulley shaft; and
a dynamic sheave structured and operable to controllably move axially along the primary pulley shaft;

a secondary pulley operably connectable to at least one wheel axle of the vehicle;
a pulley belt operably connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley to transfer torque from the primary pulley to the secondary pulley; and
a housing comprising:
an inner cover having an input shaft opening structured and operable to receive an output shaft of a prime mover of a vehicle in which the transmission can be implemented;
an outer cover connectable to the inner cover to define an interior chamber structured and operable to enclose a continuously variable transmission primary pulley, secondary pulley and pulley belt within the interior chamber,
a duct panel mounted to the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the duct panel and the inner cover, the duct panel comprising:
a disc shaped sheave recess defined by an annular sheave face wall and a circumferential sidewall extending from and around an entire periphery of the annular sheave face wall, the disc shaped sheave recess structured and operable to receive at least a portion of an outer face of a static sheave of a primary pulley of a continuously variable transmission disposable within the housing, the duct panel mounted to the housing such that the air duct is defined between the housing and a first side of the annular sheave face wall and a low pressure gap can be defined between a second side of the annular sheave face wall and the outer face of the static sheave; and
a duct center opening disposed within the annular sheave face wall, the duct center opening structured and operable to provide an air flow path between an ambient environment and the low pressure gap such that ambient air can be drawn into the housing interior chamber.

9. The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises an ambient air inlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the air duct with ambient air exterior to the housing.

10. The transmission of claim 9 wherein the duct panel further comprises at least a portion of ambient air inlet of the continuously variable transmission housing.

11. The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the low pressure gap is approximately 0.010 inches to 0.100 inches.

12. The transmission of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises an air exhaust outlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the interior chamber with the ambient air.

Assignees

• Textron Inc

Inventors

• Stocks John
• Wohlgamuth Scott Allen
• Ball Landon
• Kolody Timothy
• Furman Christopher

Classifications

• F16H2057/02065

  for motorcycles or squads · CPC title

• F16H57/0489

  with endless flexible members, e.g. belt CVTs · CPC title

• F16H9/14

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

• F16H57/0416 Primary

  Air cooling or ventilation · CPC title

• F16H57/035

  Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members · CPC title