Continuously variable transmission
OwnerStephen L. Nelson, Amery D. Kuhl +6inventors
InventorsStephen L. Nelson, Amery D. Kuhl, Narender Bejawada, Bruce E. Herrala, David J. Hicke, Paul Averillo, Giorgio Demetriou, Jeffrey I. Peterman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle includes a drive clutch, a driven clutch operably coupled to the drive clutch, and a belt extending between the drive and driven clutches. The continuously variable transmission also includes an inner cover and an outer cover removably coupled to the inner cover. At least one of the inner and outer covers includes an air inlet for providing cooling air to the drive and driven clutches and the belt.
Claims20
-20. (canceled)
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) housing comprising:
- an inner cover;
- and
- an outer cover coupled to the inner cover to define an interior, the outer cover including:
- a drive clutch protrusion integrally formed within the outer cover and defining a drive clutch space within the interior of the CVT housing;
- and
- a channel integrally formed within the outer cover and extending from the drive clutch protrusion at a first end, the channel structured and operable to direct air circulating within the interior from the drive clutch space to a portion of the interior that is at an opposite end of the interior from the drive clutch space.
A continuously variable transmission (CVT), comprising:
- a housing including an inner cover and an outer cover coupled to the inner cover to define an interior, the outer cover including:
- a drive clutch protrusion integrally formed within the outer cover and defining a drive clutch space within the interior of the housing;
- and
- a channel integrally formed within the outer cover and extending from the drive clutch protrusion at a first end, the channel structured and operable to direct air circulating within the interior from the drive clutch space to and area of the interior that is at an opposite end of the interior from the drive clutch space;
- a drive clutch assembly disposed within the interior;
- a driven clutch assembly disposed within the housing interior;
- and
- a belt disposed within the interior and operably coupling the drive clutch assembly and the driven clutch assembly.
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of ground-engaging members supporting the frame;
- an engine supported by the frame;
- a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operably coupled to the engine and configured to transfer motive force from the engine to at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging members, the CVT including:
- a housing including a inner cover and an outer cover coupled to the inner cover to define an interior, the outer cover including:
- a drive clutch protrusion integrally formed within the outer cover and defining a drive clutch space within the interior of the housing;
- and
- a channel integrally formed within the outer cover and extending from the drive clutch protrusion at a first end, the channel structured and operable to direct air circulating within the interior from the drive clutch space to and area of the interior that is at an opposite end of the interior from the drive clutch space;
- a drive clutch assembly disposed within the interior;
- a driven clutch assembly disposed within the housing interior;
- and
- a belt disposed within the interior and operably coupling the drive clutch assembly and the driven clutch assembly.
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
- a housing including an inner cover and an outer cover coupled to the inner cover to define an interior, the housing defining:
- an intake port fluidly coupled to the interior;
- and
- an outlet port fluidly coupled to the interior;
- a drive clutch assembly positioned with the interior of the housing, the drive clutch assembly including:
- a shaft operably coupled to an engine, wherein the intake port is positioned proximate the shaft;
- a stationary sheave coupled to the shaft;
- and
- a movable sheave moveably coupled to the shaft and axially moveable relative to the stationary sheave;
- a driven clutch assembly including:
- a moveable sheave;
- a stationary sheave;
- and
- a driven clutch fan integrally formed with the stationary sheave;
- a drive belt operably coupling the drive clutch assembly and the driven clutch assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.