Method for estimating wear of a polymer drive belt of a continuously variable transmission

1. A method for estimating wear of a polymer drive belt of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided in a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a first belt wear-affecting factor based on at least one first operating parameter of the vehicle;

determining a second belt wear-affecting factor based on at least one second operating parameter of the vehicle;

applying the first and second wear-affecting factors to a belt wear-representative parameter to obtain an adjusted belt wear-representative parameter; and

adjusting a total belt wear-representative parameter based on the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter to obtain an updated total belt wear-representative parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first operating parameter includes a belt load-representative parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one first operating parameter further includes a belt speed-representative parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first operating parameter of the vehicle is at least one of:

vehicle speed;

engine speed;

drive belt speed;

rotational speed of a driven pulley of the CVT;

rotational speed of a ground engaging member of the vehicle;

rotational speed of a rotating element operatively connecting the driven pulley to the ground engaging member;

engine load;

engine torque;

CVT ratio;

air charge; or

relative air charge.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the belt speed-representative parameter is one of:

vehicle speed;

engine speed;

drive belt speed;

rotational speed of a driven pulley of the CVT;

rotational speed of a ground engaging member of the vehicle; or

rotational speed of a rotating element operatively connecting the driven pulley to the ground engaging member; and

the belt load-representative parameter is one of:

engine load;

engine torque;

CVT ratio;

air charge; or

relative air charge.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the first belt wear-affecting factor comprises:

inputting the belt speed-representative parameter and the belt load-representative parameters in one of a first map, a first table or a first equation; and

obtaining the first belt wear-affecting factor from the one of the first map, the first table or the first equation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first belt wear-affecting factor comprises:

inputting the at least one first operating parameter of the vehicle in one of a first map, a first table or a first equation; and

obtaining the first belt wear-affecting factor from the one of the first map, the first table or the first equation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first belt wear-affecting factor is a belt load factor associated with a load applied on the drive belt.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second operating parameter is a belt temperature-representative parameter.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second operating parameter of the vehicle is at least one of:

ambient air temperature;

CVT air intake air temperature, the CVT air intake air temperature being a temperature of air in a CVT air intake assembly supplying air in a CVT housing of the CVT;

CVT housing air temperature, the CVT housing air temperature being a temperature of air in the CVT housing; or

drive belt temperature.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second belt wear-affecting factor comprises:

inputting the at least one second operating parameter of the vehicle in one of a second map, a second table or a second equation; and

obtaining the second belt wear-affecting factor from the one of the second map, the second table or the second equation.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second belt wear-affecting factor is a belt temperature factor associated with a temperature of the drive belt.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the belt wear-representative parameter is one of:

vehicle speed;

vehicle travel distance;

drive belt use time;

drive belt rotations;

engine rotations; or

drive belt wear units.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first and second wear-affecting factors to the belt wear-representative parameter to obtain the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter comprises:

multiplying the belt wear-representative parameter by the first wear-affecting factor and by the second wear-affecting factor to obtain the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first and second wear-affecting factors to the belt wear-representative parameter to obtain the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter comprises:

multiplying the belt wear-representative parameter by the first wear-affecting factor to obtain a first intermediate adjusted belt wear-representative parameter;

multiplying the belt wear-representative parameter by the second wear-affecting factor to obtain a second intermediate adjusted belt wear-representative parameter; and

adding the first and second intermediate adjusted belt wear-representative parameter to obtain the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the total belt wear-representative parameter based on the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter to obtain the updated total belt wear-representative parameter comprises:

adding the adjusted belt wear-representative to the total belt wear-representative parameter.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the total belt wear-representative parameter based on the adjusted belt wear-representative parameter to obtain the updated total belt wear-representative parameter comprises:

subtracting the adjusted belt wear-representative from the total belt wear-representative parameter.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising resetting the total belt wear-representative parameter upon receiving a signal indicative that the drive belt has been replaced by another drive belt.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a seat connected to the frame;

an engine connected to the frame;

at least one ground engaging member operatively connected to the engine;

a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connecting the engine to the at least one ground engaging member, the CVT comprising:

a drive pulley operatively connected to the engine;

a driven pulley operatively connected to the at least one ground engaging member; and

a drive belt wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, the drive belt being made of polymer;

a plurality of sensors; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) communicating with the plurality of sensors, the ECU comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

a processor configured to perform the method of claim 1 .

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sensors include at least two different sensors selected from:

a vehicle speed sensor;

a wheel speed sensor;

an engine speed sensor;

an intake air temperature sensor;

an intake air pressure sensor;

an ambient air temperature sensor;

a belt temperature sensor;

a CVT housing air temperature sensor;

a CVT housing pressure sensor;

an atmospheric pressure sensor; and

a throttle position sensor.

21. A method for estimating wear of a polymer drive belt of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided in a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a belt load-representative parameter of the vehicle;

sensing a belt temperature-representative parameter of the vehicle;

determining an estimated change in belt wear based on the belt load-representative parameter and the belt temperature-representative parameter;

adjusting an estimated total belt wear based on the estimated change in belt wear to obtain an updated estimated total belt wear;

comparing the updated estimated total belt wear to a threshold belt wear; and

providing an indication of a need for maintenance on the vehicle when the updated estimated total belt wear is greater than or equal to the threshold belt wear.