초록 ▼

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system for use on snowmobiles, ATV's and similar vehicles. The CVT includes a rotatable drive clutch connected to an input shaft (the input shaft being connectable to an engine), and a roller clutch carried on the input shaft. The CVT also includes a rotata

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system for use on snowmobiles, ATV's and similar vehicles. The CVT includes a rotatable drive clutch connected to an input shaft (the input shaft being connectable to an engine), and a roller clutch carried on the input shaft. The CVT also includes a rotatable driven clutch connected to an output shaft, the driven clutch having a laterally stationary sheave and a laterally movable sheave that is normally biased toward the stationary sheave. An endless flexible drive belt is disposed about the drive and driven clutches. The clutches and drive belt are configured so that when the engine is idling the belt firmly engages a drive surface of the roller clutch that is connected to the drive clutch. The roller clutch permits the drive surface (and, therefore, the belt) to remain stationary when the input shaft is rotating, thereby preventing vehicle "creep" when idling, and, yet, the roller clutch also firmly engages the drive clutch's drive surface with the input shaft when the driven clutch attempts to drive the belt faster than the speed at which the drive clutch and input shaft are rotating, thereby permitting the driven clutch to backdrive the input shaft and engine to provide engine braking to the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A continuously variable transmission system comprising:a rotatable input shaft connectable to an engine of a vehicle;a rotatable drive clutch connected to the input shaft, the drive clutch havinga laterally stationary sheave with an inner belt-engaging surface,a laterally

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A continuously variable transmission system comprising:a rotatable input shaft connectable to an engine of a vehicle;a rotatable drive clutch connected to the input shaft, the drive clutch havinga laterally stationary sheave with an inner belt-engaging surface,a laterally movable sheave with an inner belt-engaging surface,biasing means for normally biasing the movable sheave away from the stationary sheave and for selectively moving the movable sheave toward the stationary sheave in response to rotation of the drive clutch, anda roller clutch carried on the input shaft, the roller clutch having an outer belt-engaging surface disposed radially inwardly of the belt-engaging surfaces of the stationary and movable sheaves;a rotatable output shaft connectable to a drive axle of the vehicle;a rotatable driven clutch connected to the output shaft, the driven clutch havinga laterally stationary sheave with an inner belt-engaging surface,a laterally movable sheave with an inner belt-engaging surface, andmeans for normally biasing the movable sheave toward the stationary sheave; andan endless flexible drive belt disposed about the drive and driven clutches, the belt having an inner drive surface engageable with the outer surface of the roller clutch and a pair of side drive surfaces engageable against the inner belt-engaging surfaces of the sheaves, the size of the drive belt being selected so that when the engine is at an idle speed the inner surface of the belt firmly engages the outer surface of the roller clutch;the roller clutch being configured and arranged to permit the belt-engaging surface of the roller clutch to remain substantially stationary when the input shaft is rotating, thereby permitting the belt and driven clutch to remain substantially stationary when the engine is at an idle speed.