Continuously variable transmission belt guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863512-B2
Application number	US-201514824582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission belt guide is mounted next to a driven clutch assembly and in close proximity with the CVT belt at the CVT's lowest drive ratio. The CVT belt connects between a pair of moveable sheaves of the drive and driven clutch assemblies to provide a variable CVT drive ratio between a lowest drive ratio and a highest drive ratio. When contacting the CVT belt, the CVT belt guide prevents a ripple or wave from appearing in the un-tensioned side of the belt, prevents the CVT belt from losing contact with the driven clutch, and prevents undesirable vehicle performance at the lowest drive ratio.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a continuously variable transmission having a drive clutch assembly, a driven clutch assembly, and a CVT belt connecting between a pair of moveable sheaves of each clutch assembly to provide a variable CVT drive ratio between a lowest drive ratio and a highest drive ratio; and
a rotatable belt guide mounted on a post attached at a fixed position next to a maximum circumference of the driven clutch assembly where the guide contacts the CVT belt at the CVT's lowest drive ratio.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the belt guide outer surface is within 2 mm of the CVT belt at the CVT's lowest drive ratio.

3. An apparatus, comprising:
a belt guide mounted to a post secured to a continuously variable transmission housing enclosing a drive clutch assembly, a driven clutch assembly, and a V-belt between the drive clutch assembly and the driven clutch assembly;
the belt guide including a rotatable bearing that can contact the V-belt where the belt guide is mounted at a maximum circumference of the driven clutch assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable bearing is positioned between a pair of bushings.

5. An apparatus, comprising:
a rotatable bearing supported by a guide post that is mounted and secured at a fixed position adjacent a driven clutch assembly of a continuously variable transmission to contact and rotate with a CVT belt at an outer diameter of the driven clutch assembly if the CVT belt begins to lose contact with the driven clutch assembly while at a lowest drive ratio of the continuously variable transmission.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the CVT belt is a V-belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the lowest drive ratio is at a maximum circumference of the driven clutch assembly.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Yolitz Nathan
• Hayden Stephan R

Classifications

• F16H7/20 Primary

  Mountings for rollers or pulleys · CPC title

• F16H7/12

  of an idle pulley · CPC title