Continuously variable transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863523-B2
Application number	US-201615075583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 21, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission housing is provided that includes an inner cover and an outer cover connectable to the inner cover to define an interior chamber. The interior chamber 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. Moreover, 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 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 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, and
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 a static sheave of the primary pulley and the input shaft opening of the inner cover and an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing, the duct panel comprising a center opening structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn into the housing interior chamber.

2. The housing of claim 1 further comprising an ambient air inlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the air duct with the ambient air.

3. The housing of claim 2 further comprising an air exhaust outlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the interior chamber with the ambient air.

4. 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 the prime mover output shaft;
an outer cover connected to the inner cover, thereby defining an interior chamber of the housing and enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley and the pulley belt within the interior chamber; and
a duct panel mounted to the inner cover between an outer face of the primary pulley static sheave and the input shaft opening of the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing, the duct panel comprising a center opening structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn into the housing interior chamber,

wherein the outer face of the primary pulley static sheave comprises a plurality of low pressure fins structured and operable to generate a vacuum effect at the air duct center opening as the primary pulley is rotated, thereby drawing the ambient air through the air duct and into the interior chamber of the housing via the duct panel center opening.

5. The transmission of claim 4 , wherein the duct panel comprises a sheave-side face, and is shaped such that when the primary pulley is connected to the prime mover output shaft, the primary pulley static sheave outer face is disposed in a spaced apart relation with the duct panel sheave-side face, wherein the spaced apart relation between the primary pulley static sheave outer face and the duct panel sheave-side face defines a low pressure gap therebetween.

6. The transmission of claim 5 , wherein the low pressure gap is approximately 0.030 inches to 0.080 inches.

7. The transmission of claim 5 , wherein the duct panel sheave-side face has perimeter dimensions that are at least as large as perimeter dimensions of the primary pulley static sheave outer face.

8. The transmission of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises an ambient air inlet structured and operable to fluidly connect the air duct with the ambient air.

9. 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.

10. The transmission of claim 9 further comprising an air inlet filter connectable to the ambient air inlet, the air inlet filter structured and operable to filter the ambient air drawn into the interior chamber.

11. The transmission of claim 9 further comprising an air outlet baffle connectable to the air exhaust outlet, the air outlet baffle structured and operable to impede foreign matter from entering the ambient air outlet.

12. A vehicle, said vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a plurality of wheels operationally connected to the chassis;
a prime mover mounted to the chassis and structured and operable to generate torque; and
a drivetrain connected to the prime mover, the drivetrain structured and operable to deliver the torque generated by the prime mover to at least one of the wheels, the drivetrain comprising;
at least one wheel axle operably connected to at least one of the wheels; and
a continuously variable transmission operably connected to the prime mover and to the at least one wheel axle, the transmission comprising:
a primary pulley operably connected to an output shaft of the prime mover, the primary pulley comprising:
a primary pulley shaft operably connected 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 connected to the at least one wheel axle;
a pulley belt operably connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley to transfer torque from the primary pulley to the secondary pulley;
a housing comprising:
an inner cover having an input shaft opening structured and operable to receive the prime mover output shaft;
an outer cover connected to the inner cover, thereby defining an interior chamber of the housing and enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley and the pulley belt within the interior chamber; and
a duct panel mounted to the inner cover between an outer face of the primary pulley static sheave and the input shaft opening of the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing, the duct panel comprising a center opening structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn into the housing interior chamber,

wherein the outer face of the primary pulley static sheave comprises a plurality of low pressure fins structured and operable to generate a vacuum effect at the air duct center opening as the primary pulley is rotated, thereby drawing the ambient air through the air duct and into the interior chamber of the housing via the duct panel center opening.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the duct panel comprises a sheave-side face, and is shaped such that the primary pulley static sheave outer face is disposed in a spaced apart relation with the duct panel sheave-side face, wherein the spaced apart relation between the primary pulley static sheave outer face and the duct panel sheave-side face defines a low pressure gap therebetween.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the low pressure gap is approximately 0.030 inches to 0.080 inches.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the duct panel sheave-side face has perimeter d

Assignees

• Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16H57/035

  Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members · CPC title

• F16H57/0416 Primary

  Air cooling or ventilation · CPC title

• F16H9/14

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

• F16H57/027

  characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers · CPC title

• F16H57/0489

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