Flyweights, CVT clutches, and methods of tuning flyweights
AssigneeStarting Line Products, Inc.
InventorAllen Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flyweight comprises a body. The body of the flyweight comprises a pivot, a cam surface, and a first coupler. The first coupler is configured to selectively couple at least one first weight to the body distal from the cam surface. A flyweight comprises a body having at least 20% of its mass positioned to contribute negative torque about a pivot related to an acceleration of a CVT clutch from an idling condition. A method of tuning a flyweight comprises attaching at least one first weight to a first coupler of a body of the flyweight distal from a cam surface of the body. A CVT clutch comprises at least one flyweight with a first coupler configured to selectively couple at least one first weight to a body of the flyweight distal from a cam surface.
Claims20
A flyweight comprising:
- a body, the body comprising:
- a pivot;
- and
- a cam surface;
- and
- a protrusion extending from the body distally from the cam surface, the protrusion including a first coupler configured to selectively couple at least one first weight to the body distal from the cam surface such that substantially all of the mass of the at least one first weight contributes to reduced torque about the pivot of the flyweight, wherein the at least one first weight has a density greater than a density of the body.
A method of tuning a flyweight, the method comprising attaching at least one first weight to a first coupler on a protrusion extending from a body distally from a cam surface, the first coupler configured to selectively couple the at least one first weight to the body distal from the cam surface, wherein attaching the at least one first weight to the first coupler comprises attaching the at least one first weight such that substantially all of the mass of the at least one first weight contributes to reduced torque about a pivot of the flyweight in its initial, unengaged position in a continuously variable transmission clutch.
A continuously variable transmission clutch, comprising:
- a flyweight comprising:
- a body, the body comprising:
- a pivot;
- a cam surface;
- at least one first weight configured to be coupled to the body;
- and
- a protrusion extending from the body distally from the cam surface, the protrusion including a first coupler configured to selectively couple the at least one first weight to the body distal from the cam surface, wherein the at least one first weight has a density greater than a density of the body;
- and
- wherein the at least one first weight is coupled to the protrusion such that at least substantially all the mass of the at least one first weight is configured to reduce torque about the pivot related to a rotational acceleration of the continuously variable transmission clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.