Granted Patent B2

US 12,644,513 · App. 18/813,616 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Amery D. Kuhl (Wyoming, MN); Jacob Jain (Balsam Lake, WI); David J. Hicke (Chisago City, MN); Stephen L Nelson (Osceola, WI); Anthony J. Ripley (Ham Lake, MN)

Assignee: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.

F16H57/0489F16H57/027F16H57/0416B60K11/06B60Y2400/72

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . A continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive clutch including a moveable sheave and a stationary sheave;

a driven clutch operably coupled to the drive clutch and including a moveable sheave and a stationary sheave; and

a housing generally surrounding the drive and driven clutches and including an inner cover and an outer cover, and the outer cover includes a channel configured to initially direct air toward the drive clutch independent of the driven clutch;

wherein the channel is configured to direct air towards the stationary sheave of the drive clutch at a position within the inner cover.

2 . The CVT of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover includes a diverter member positioned adjacent the stationary sheave of the drive clutch and configured to direct air from the channel toward the stationary sheave of the drive clutch.

3 . The CVT of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover includes an air inlet fluidly communicating with an interior of the housing.

4 . A continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive clutch including a moveable sheave and a stationary sheave;

a driven clutch operably coupled to the drive clutch and including a moveable sheave and a stationary sheave;

a housing generally surrounding the drive and driven clutches and including an inner cover and an outer cover, the outer cover defining an air supply opening, and the outer cover defining a first channel configured to direct air toward the drive clutch from the air supply opening and a second channel configured to direct air toward the driven clutch from the air supply opening;

wherein the driven clutch defines a plurality of fins to direct airflow from the second channel.

5 . The CVT of claim 4 , further comprising an air diverter coupled to the outer cover, wherein the first channel is defined between a first portion of the air diverter and the outer cover and the second channel is defined between a second portion of the air diverter and the outer cover.

6 . The CVT of claim 5 , wherein a third portion of the air diverter defines a third channel, the third channel configured to direct air along an upper surface of the housing.

7 . The CVT of claim 6 , wherein the inner cover defines a fourth channel and a fifth channel, and the third channel is configured to direct air into the fourth channel and the fifth channel.

8 . The CVT of claim 7 , wherein the fourth channel is configured to direct air toward the drive clutch and the fifth channel is configured to direct air toward the driven clutch.

9 . The CVT of claim 8 , wherein the first channel is configured to direct air toward a moveable sheave of the drive clutch, the second channel is configured to direct air toward a moveable sheave of the driven clutch, the fourth channel is configured to direct air toward a stationary sheave of the drive clutch, and the fifth channel is configured to direct air toward a stationary sheave of the driven clutch.

10 . The CVT of claim 4 , wherein the drive clutch defines a plurality of fins to direct airflow from the first channel.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)