Patent ID: 6358167
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of improving the efficiency of a continuously variable chain-belt transmission with two pairs of conically tapered disks and a chain belt transmitting torque of a variable magnitude from one to the other of the pairs of conically tapered disks, the chain belt being held tight by compressive contact with the conically tapered disks, a belt-tightening contact pressure being applied to both pairs of disks dependent on the magnitude of the torque to be transmitted, a ratio-controlling pressure being applied to one of the pairs of conical disks dependent on a transmission ratio to be set, a pump pressure being generated by a pump and regulated to a pressure level that exceeds the ratio-controlling pressure by a preset amount and at least equals the belt-tightening contact pressure, a ratio-controlling valve device being responsive to a ratio-controlling current that is variable in a continuous range extending above and below a neutral value of the ratio-controlling current, so that the ratio-controlling valve directs the ratio-controlling pressure to one of the pairs of conical disks when the ratio-controlling current is above the neutral value and to the other of the pairs of conical disks when the ratio-controlling current is below the neutral value, the method comprising the following steps:a) monitoring of values of operational parameters of the transmission while the transmission is in actual use; b) updating of the neutral value of the ratio-controlling current based on the values of the monitored operational parameters.