Patent ID: 6412617
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: B60W,F16D,F16H

Abstract:
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) connecting a driving shaft adapted to be coupled to an engine and a driven shaft adapted to be coupled to a load, the CVT comprising:transmission means for transmitting power between the driving and driven shafts; clamping force application means for applying a clamping force to said transmission means; a clutch having an in-going shaft and an outgoing shaft; and control means for controlling both said clamping force application means and said clutch to cause said clutch to slip a non-zero amount during continuous operation of the CVT, an amount of the clutch slip being a difference between a rotational speed of said in-going shaft and a rotational speed of said out-going shaft, and to reduce the clamping force when said clutch slips the non-zero amount compared to when said clutch has zero slip.