Vehicle powertrain having a hydraulic continuously variable transmission

A vehicle powertrain comprising:

• an engine, the engine having:
• an engine casing;
• and
• a crankshaft extending through a portion of the engine casing, the crankshaft having a passage defined therein;
• a shaft connected to and driven by the crankshaft;
• a continuously variable transmission driving pulley disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith, the driving pulley including:
• a fixed sheave disposed on the shaft for rotation therewith;
• a movable sheave operatively connected with the fixed sheave;
• a spring biasing the movable sheave away from the fixed sheave;
• and
• a CVT chamber fluidly communicating with the passage of the crankshaft;
• a hydraulic fluid reservoir disposed between the portion of the engine casing and the fixed sheave, the reservoir fluidly communicating with the passage of the crankshaft;
• a pump fluidly communicating with the reservoir, the pump supplying hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the passage in the crankshaft, the hydraulic fluid flowing from the passage to the CVT chamber to bias the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave;
• wherein the passage in the crankshaft includes:
• an axial passage extending axially in the crankshaft;
• and at least one inlet passage extending radially from the axial passage to an outer surface of the crankshaft, the at least one inlet passage fluidly communicating the axial passage with the pump, and the axial passage fluidly communicating the at least one inlet passage with the CVT chamber.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• an engine casing;
• a crankshaft extending through the engine casing;
• an axial passage extending axially in the crankshaft, the axial passage defining an opening in an end of the crankshaft disposed externally of the engine casing, the opening permitting the passage of fluid therethrough;
• and
• at least one inlet passage extending from the axial passage to an outer surface of the crankshaft;
• wherein the at least one inlet passage extends radially from the axial passage to the outer surface of the crankshaft, the at least one inlet passage fluidly communicating the axial passage with a pump, and the axial passage fluidly communicating the at least one inlet passage with a CVT chamber.