Method of operating a vehicle and a vehicle
A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.
1. A method of operating a vehicle,
the vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a throttle operator being moveable by a driver of the vehicle;
a throttle valve regulating airflow to the engine, a throttle valve position being based at least in part on a throttle operator position;
a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine, the CVT including a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving pulley to the driven pulley;
at least one ground engaging member operatively connected to the driven pulley and comprising at least one of: a wheel and a track;
a piston operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force to the driving pulley when actuated and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley; and
a control unit for controlling actuation of the piston and the piston force,
the method comprising:
determining a driven pulley speed of the driven pulley;
detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, the stall condition comprising:
the driven pulley speed decreasing; and
a rate of decrease of the driven pulley speed being greater in magnitude than a stall threshold rate; and
responsive to the detection of the stall condition, setting the piston force to be zero.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stall threshold rate is 150 rpm/s 2 .
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle comprises a brake operatively connected to the at least one ground engaging member; and
the stall condition further comprising the brake being actuated.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piston is at least one of: pneumatically actuated and hydraulically actuated.