Continuously variable transmission drive pulley

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933064-B2
Application number	US-201615288209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A drive pulley for a CVT has a fixed sheave, a movable sheave, a spider, a biasing member biasing the movable sheave axially away from the fixed sheave, at least one centrifugal actuator and first and second rollers rotationally connected to one of the movable sheave and the spider. The first roller rolls along the other one of the movable sheave and the spider as the movable sheave moves axially. The second roller rolls along the other one of the movable sheave and the spider as the movable sheave moves axially. The first and second rollers transfer torque between the movable sheave and the spider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission comprising:
a fixed sheave having an axis of rotation;
a movable sheave axially movable relative to the fixed sheave;
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;
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;
a first roller rotationally connected to one of the movable sheave and the spider and abutting another one of the movable sheave and the spider to transfer a first torque to the other one of the movable sheave and the spider in a first direction; and
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 to transfer a second torque to the other one of the movable sheave and the spider in a second direction opposite the first direction.

2. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rollers are rotationally connected to the movable sheave.

3. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein:
the first roller is heavier than the second roller; and
when the drive pulley is rotating, a magnitude of the first torque is greater than a magnitude of the second torque.

4. The drive pulley of claim 3 , further comprising a radially extending axle connected to the movable sheave;
wherein 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 at least one of the first and second rollers are slidable along the axle.

6. The drive pulley of claim 5 , wherein:
the other one of the movable sheave and the spider defines a surface;
one of the first and second rollers abuts the surface to prevent sliding of the one of the first and second rollers.

7. The drive pulley of claim 2 , wherein:
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.

8. The drive pulley of claim 7 , wherein: the first roller is larger than the second roller; and
the first roller is disposed radially outward of the second roller.

9. The drive pulley of claim 7 , wherein:
the first roller is heavier than the second roller; and
the first roller is disposed radially outward of the second roller.

10. The drive pulley of claim 7 , wherein:
a first surface of the first roller abutting the first wall is angled relative to an axis of rotation of the first roller;
a second surface of the first wall abutting the first surface of the first roller is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the first roller;
a third surface of the second roller abutting the second wall is angled relative to an axis of rotation of the second roller; and
a fourth surface of the second wall abutting the third surface of the second roller is angled relative to the axis of rotation of the second roller.

11. The drive pulley of claim 10 , wherein:
a fifth surface of the second roller abutting the second wall is parallel to the axis of rotation of the second roller; and
a sixth surface of the second wall abutting the fifth surface of the second roller is parallel to the axis of rotation of the second roller.

12. The drive pulley of claim 10 , wherein:
the first and second surfaces extend toward the axis of rotation of the first roller as they extend away from the axis of rotation of the fixed sheave; and
the third and fourth surfaces extend toward the axis of rotation of the second roller as they extend away from the axis of rotation of the fixed sheave.

13. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rollers rotate about a common axis of rotation, the common axis of rotation being perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of the fixed sheave.

14. 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 first roller is three first rollers disposed at 120 degrees from each other;
wherein the centrifugal actuators and first rollers are arranged in an alternating arrangement and are disposed at 60 degrees from each other;
wherein the second roller is three second rollers disposed at 120 degrees from each other;
wherein the centrifugal actuators and second rollers are arranged in an alternating arrangement and are disposed at 60 degrees from each other.

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

16. The drive pulley of claim 1 , further comprising a damper connecting the fixed sheave to the spider and transferring torque between the fixed sheave and the spider.

17. The drive pulley of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixed sheave shaft connected to the fixed sheave; and
a movable sheave shaft connected to the movable sheave, the fixed sheave shaft being disposed at least in part inside the movable sheave shaft;
wherein the movable sheave shaft is disposed at least in part inside the biasing member; and
wherein the biasing member is disposed at least in part inside the spider.

18. The drive pulley of claim 1 , wherein as the first and second rollers wear, the first and second rollers continue to roll along the other one of the movable sheave and the spider as the movable sheave moves axially.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a motor connected to the frame;
a continuously variable transmission comprising:
the drive pulley of claim 1 ;
a driven pulley having:
a fixed sheave; and
a movable sheave axially movable relative to the fixed sheave; and

a drive belt looped around the fixed and movable sheaves,
the drive pulley being operatively connected to and driven by the motor;

a driven shaft connected to and driven by the driven pulley; and
at least one ground engaging member operatively connected to the driven shaft.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein:
the frame includes a tunnel; and
the at least one ground engaging member is a drive track disposed at least in part under the tunnel;
the vehicle further comprising:
at least one ski operatively connected to the frame; and
a straddle seat disposed above the tunnel.

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Aitcin Xavier-Pierre
• Bourgeois Yan

Classifications

• F16H9/14

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

• F16H2055/366

  with means providing resilience or vibration damping · CPC title

• B62M27/02

  power driven · CPC title

• B62M9/08

  involving eccentrically- mounted or elliptically-shaped driving or driven wheel; with expansible driving or driven wheel · CPC title

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title