ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WITH AXIALLY MOVABLE TORQUE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM
An electronically controlled CVT driving pulley comprising a pair of opposed sheaves adapted to rotate about a driving pulley rotation axis is hereby provided, one of the sheaves including an axial protrusion including a series of teeth cooperating with an axial bearing mechanism providing a relative axial displacement between the opposed sheaves and to transmit a torque between the opposed sheaves. A kit and a method for transmitting a torque between two opposed sheaves of an electronically controlled CVT is also provided.
1 . An electronically controlled CVT driving pulley comprising a pair of opposed sheaves adapted to rotate about a driving pulley rotation axis, one of the sheaves including an axial protrusion including a series of teeth cooperating with an axial bearing mechanism providing a relative axial displacement between the opposed sheaves and to transmit a torque between the opposed sheaves.
2 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 1 , wherein the axial bearing mechanism further comprises a slider member for transmitting the torque between the opposed sheaves and guiding the axial displacement of the sheave.
3 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 2 , wherein the slider member is axially disposed between two support bearings.
4 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 2 , wherein the slider member further includes a series of compression portions and intervening junction portions, the compression portions being adapted to reduce rotational vibrations provided by fluctuations of the torque.
5 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 2 , wherein the slider members includes rattle-preventing elements.
6 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 5 , wherein the rattle-preventing elements are a series of legs adapted to respectively contact the series of teeth.
7 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 2 , wherein the axial bearing mechanism includes a slider member receptacle provided with an internal series of axial teeth sized and designed to rotatably engage the slider member.
8 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 7 , wherein the slider member is adapted to be secured to the slider member receptacle.
9 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 8 , wherein the axial displacement between the sheaves is provided by a threaded interface radially and distally disposed in respect with the slider member receptacle.
10 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 9 , wherein the threaded interface includes a male threaded portion and a female threaded portion, one of the threaded portions operatively supporting a main actuation gear axially disposed between the axial bearing mechanism and the pair of sheaves.
11 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 7 , wherein the slider member receptacle is rotatably secured to a pulley.
12 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 1 , wherein the axial protrusion is hollowed and is adapted to receive therein an axial shaft, the axial protrusion further including at least one bearing member intervening between the hollowed axial protrusion and the axial shaft.
13 . The electronically controlled CVT driving pulley of claim 1 , wherein the electronically assisted CVT manages the displacement between the opposed sheaves with an electric motor and an intervening set of gears and wherein the intervening set of gears are substantially radially superposing the slider member.
14 . A method for transmitting a torque between two opposed sheaves of an electronically controlled CVT, the method comprising:
rotating one of the opposed sheaves;
rotating a slider member receptacle with the one of the opposed sheaves, the slider member receptacle engaging a slider member; and
transmitting the torque to the other opposed sheave via the slider member.
15 . The method for transmitting a torque of claim 14 , the method further comprising:
actuating a motor to rotate a main actuation gear;
rotating a threaded body with the main actuation gear;
transforming the rotation of the threaded body into a axial displacement thereof; and
axially displacing the other opposed sheaves with the axial displacement of the threaded body.
16 . The method for transmitting a torque of claim 14 , wherein the other opposed sheave comprises a protruding end and wherein the slider member engages the protruding end to transmit torque thereto.
17 . An electronically assisted CVT assisting mechanism adapted to be secured in cantilever to a power drive, the assisting mechanism comprising:
a chassis;
an actuation motor secured to the chassis; and
a main actuation gear operatively secured to a first threaded portion and drivably connected to the actuation motor, the first threaded portion being threadedly connected to a second threaded portion to transfer a rotation of the main actuation gear to a corresponding axial translation of an axially movable sheave, the assisting mechanism being adapted to be polarly positioned about a rotation axis of the axially movable sheave such that the assisting mechanism could be secured at various angle about the rotation axis of the axially movable sheave to be installed in a variety of different layouts.
18 . The electronically assisted CVT assisting mechanism of claim 17 , further comprising a retaining member configured to polarly secure the assisting mechanism, the retaining member preventing the assisting mechanism to rotate or pivot about the rotation axis of the axially movable sheave.
19 . The electronically assisted CVT assisting mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the retaining member is part of the chassis and is adapted to connect a motor.
20 . The electronically assisted CVT assisting mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the assisting mechanism includes a slider member therein.