Patent ID: 9010466
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: B60K,F16H

Abstract:
1. A belt type continuously variable transmission for the traction drive train of a vehicle, which comprises: (a) at least one pulley comprising an axially fixed sheave and an axially movable sheave carried on a rotatable shaft; (b) a flexible belt that engages between the sheaves; (c) a plurality of movable members that are responsive to centrifugal force for pushing the fixed sheave towards the movable sheave to thereby change the position of the belt between the sheaves to continuously change a transmission ratio provided by the transmission between a nominal minimum transmission ratio and a nominal maximum transmission ratio; and (d) a selectively deployable stop carried on the at least one pulley with the stop being selectively movable relative to the sheaves between a non-deployed position and at least one deployed position, the stop being configured such that in the non-deployed position thereof the stop has no effect on the transmission ratios available from the transmission such that the transmission can continuously shift between its nominal minimum and maximum transmission ratios, the stop being further configured such that in the at least one deployed position thereof the stop is repositioned on the at least one pulley to mechanically limit the relative motion between the fixed and movable sheaves to a range of motion that is smaller than a range of motion provided in normal operation of the transmission but without the stop protruding into the path of or interfering with the operation of the centrifugal force responsive members, wherein the stop in the at least one deployed position thereof provides an actual maximum transmission ratio that is lower than the nominal maximum transmission ratio but higher than the nominal minimum transmission ratio with the centrifugal force responsive members still being able to operate to continuously shift the transmission between the nominal minimum transmission ratio and the actual maximum transmission ratio set by the position of the stop in the at least one deployed position thereof.