Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission, said transmission comprising:

• a primary pulley operably connectable to an output shaft of a prime mover of a vehicle, the primary pulley comprising:
• a primary pulley shaft operably connectable to the prime mover output shaft;
• a static sheave fixedly mounted to the primary pulley shaft;
• and
• a dynamic sheave structured and operable to controllably move axially along the primary pulley shaft;
• a secondary pulley operably connectable to at least one wheel axle of the vehicle;
• a pulley belt operably connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley to transfer torque from the primary pulley to the secondary pulley;
• and
• a housing comprising:
• an inner cover having an input shaft opening structured and operable to receive the prime mover output shaft;
• an outer cover connected to the inner cover, thereby defining an interior chamber of the housing and enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley and the pulley belt within the interior chamber;
• and
• a duct panel mounted to the inner cover between an outer face of the primary pulley static sheave and the input shaft opening of the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing, the duct panel comprising a center opening structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn into the housing interior chamber,
• wherein the outer face of the primary pulley static sheave comprises a plurality of low pressure fins structured and operable to generate a vacuum effect at the air duct center opening as the primary pulley is rotated, thereby drawing the ambient air through the air duct and into the interior chamber of the housing via the duct panel center opening.

A vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a plurality of wheels operationally connected to the chassis;
• a prime mover mounted to the chassis and structured and operable to generate torque;
• and
• a drivetrain connected to the prime mover, the drivetrain structured and operable to deliver the torque generated by the prime mover to at least one of the wheels, the drivetrain comprising;
• at least one wheel axle operably connected to at least one of the wheels;
• and
• a continuously variable transmission operably connected to the prime mover and to the at least one wheel axle, the transmission comprising:
• a primary pulley operably connected to an output shaft of the prime mover, the primary pulley comprising:
• a primary pulley shaft operably connected to the prime mover output shaft;
• a static sheave fixedly mounted to the primary pulley shaft;
• and
• a dynamic sheave structured and operable to controllably move axially along the primary pulley shaft;
• a secondary pulley operably connected to the at least one wheel axle;
• a pulley belt operably connecting the primary pulley to the secondary pulley to transfer torque from the primary pulley to the secondary pulley;
• a housing comprising:
• an inner cover having an input shaft opening structured and operable to receive the prime mover output shaft;
• an outer cover connected to the inner cover, thereby defining an interior chamber of the housing and enclosing the primary pulley, the secondary pulley and the pulley belt within the interior chamber;
• and
• a duct panel mounted to the inner cover between an outer face of the primary pulley static sheave and the input shaft opening of the inner cover such that an air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing, the duct panel comprising a center opening structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn into the housing interior chamber,
• wherein the outer face of the primary pulley static sheave comprises a plurality of low pressure fins structured and operable to generate a vacuum effect at the air duct center opening as the primary pulley is rotated, thereby drawing the ambient air through the air duct and into the interior chamber of the housing via the duct panel center opening.