Team Industries, Inc.

Product Research and Development, Inc.

Shane Clair Okeson

Brian George Eck

Brandon R Bonham

Michael Gunderson

Bruce H Younggren

Christopher David Hamm

Canaan Wray Ricke

John Edward Hamrin

Michael Allen Mueller

Matthew Douglas Cann

Allen Lloyd Olson

Stephen James Molde

Zoran Vuksa

Bruce A Nelson

Brandon J Engen

Dave Osterman

David Michael Gordon

Richard K Olson

Jeffrey Paul Reddick

Theodore Robert Otto

Gregory J Adkins

Michael William Carver

A CVT clutch is provided. A fixed sheave of the CVT clutch is statically mounted on an end of the post. A movable sheave assembly is dynamically mounted on the post. The movable sheave includes a recess cavity that is defined by a movable sheave housing. A spider is statically mounted on the post within the recess cavity of the movable sheave assembly. At least one interchangeable ramp is positioned within the recess cavity so that at least one space is provided between the at least one interchangeable ramp and a sheave face of the movable sheave housing. An engagement member is positioned to engage an associated interchangeable ramp and the spider. A main bias member is configured to assert a bias force on the spider and cover to position each engagement member at a select location on the associated interchangeable ramp when a countering force is not present.

Continuously variable transmission clutch

A uniform clamp actuated shift infinitely variable transmission system is provided that includes a drive clutch and a driven clutch. Both the drive clutch and the driven clutch include torque sensitive assemblies. In particular, the drive clutch includes a drive torque sensitive assembly that is in operational communication with a movable drive sheave member of the drive clutch. The drive torque sensitive assembly is configured to move the movable drive sheave member in relation to a fixed drive sheave member based at least on torque applied to the drive torque sensitive assembly. The driven clutch includes a driven torque sensitive assembly that is in operational communication with a movable driven sheave member of the driven clutch. The driven torque sensitive assembly is configured to move the movable driven sheave member in relation to a fixed driven sheave member based at least on torque applied to the driven torque sensitive assembly.

Uniform clamp actuated shift infinitely variable transmission system

A drive clutch having an engine braking feature for a continuously variable transmission is provided. The drive clutch includes a post that is coupled to an output of an engine. A fixed sheave, coupled to the post, has a fixed sheave belt engagement face. A movable sheave assembly that includes a movable sheave belt engaging face, is configured to move axially on the post to move the movable sheave belt engaging face in relation to the fixed sheave belt engaging face depending on a rotational speed of the drive clutch. An idler bearing is mounted on the post at least in part between the movable sheave belt engaging face and the fixed sheave belt engaging face. The idler bearing includes a one-way rotational assembly and has an outer belt engaging surface with outward extending cogs configured to engage teeth of a belt to prevent slippage during engine braking.

Continuously variable transmission engine braking system

A drive clutch including a primary post, a fixed sheave, a movable sheave, an activation assembly is provided. The fixed sheave is statically coupled to the primary post. The movable sheave is slidably mounted on the primary post. The activation assembly is in operational communication with the movable sheave to move the movable sheave on the primary post away from and towards the fixed sheave based on a centrifugal force experienced by the drive clutch. The activation assembly includes a spider, at least one trunnion slidably mounted on a spider arm and a main activation biasing member. The at least one trunnion has opposable extending trunnion arms. A roller is rotationally mounted on each trunnion arm. Each roller is positioned to engage a ramp profile associated with a sheave post extending from the movable sheave. The main activation biasing member is positioned to assert a biasing force on the spider.

Drive clutch a CVT

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system including a primary clutch assembly with an engine braking assembly is provided. The primary clutch assembly includes first and second sheave assemblies, a cylindrical sleeve coupler and an engine braking assembly. The first sheave portion has a centrally extending post. The cylindrical sleeve coupler is rotationally mounted on a portion of the post. The sleeve coupler has an engaging surface that is configured to engage an inner face of a drive belt. The second sheave portion has a central passage that is rotationally mounted on the sleeve coupler. The engine braking assembly is operatively coupled to the second sheave portion and the sleeve coupler to axially move the second sheave portion toward the first sheave portion to engage first and second side faces of the drive belt when the sleeve coupler attempts to overrun the post of the first sheave portion in a rotational direction provided by a rotational output of an engine operatively coupled to the primary clutch.

Engine braking primary clutch for CVT systems

A continuous variable clutch is provided. The continuous variable clutch includes a first sheave member and a second sheave member. The first sheave member includes a first central hub and a first conical-faced surface extending radially from the first central hub. The second sheave member includes a second central hub and a second conical-faced surface that extends radially from the second central hub. The second central hub of the second sheave member is received in a cavity of the first central hub such that the first conical-faced surface of the first sheave member facing the second conical-faced surface of the second sheave portion. The second central hub moving axially within the first central hub based on an amount of torque on the continuous variable clutch. The first sheave member and the second sheave member further forming a central passage to receive an input shaft of a transmission.

Continuous variable clutch

Controller for an all terrain or utility vehicle for automatically raising and lowering an implement to a pre-selected position using an electric winch. The winch is turned for a predetermined time during with the winch is turned, and based on the selected lowered position and the predetermined time the winch may be raised to the same height, denoting a raised position. Based on that predetermined time, a second predetermined time may be determined to run the winch in the opposite direction, with the time corresponding to the amount of time required the snow plow to the selected lowered position. The time to lower the plow may tend to be less than the time required to raise the plow due to the effect of gravity. The controller may raise or lower the plow after the transmission has been set from neutral to reverse or forward, respectively.

Implement control system for an all terrain or utility vehicle and method

An all-terrain or utility vehicle having various combinations of left and right front wheels, left and right rear wheels, a differential rotationally variably coupling the left and right front wheels together with a variable coupling torque and a source of motive power being selectively coupled to the left and right rear wheels in one configuration and coupled to the left and right front wheels as well as to the left and right rear wheels in a second configuration. The coupling torque is relatively stronger when a speed of the vehicle is relatively slower and is relatively weaker when the speed of the vehicle is relatively faster. The second configuration is selectable from the first configuration while the vehicle is in motion and (1) a rotational difference in speed exists between at least one of the left and right front wheels and at least one of the left and right rear wheels and (2) a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right rear wheels exceeds a rotational speed of at least one of the left and right front wheels.

All terrain or utility vehicle having selectable drive configurations and method therefore

A driven element ( ) has a first sheave ( ) and a second moveable sheave ( ). The sheaves ( and ) are rotatably tied together so that there is no relative motion between the two sheaves ( and ).

Clutch with no relative rotation

A one-way bearing or clutch is provided to decouple a continuously variable transmission from the final drive member during reverse torque conditions.

Clutch with a one-way torque carrying bearing

The invention is a secondary, or driven, element suitable for use as one element of a three-element continuously variable transmission comprising a primary drive sheave, a V-belt, and the secondary drive sheave. Both sheaves have variable pitch diameters. The pitch diameter of the primary split sheave increases with increasing rotation rate, and the pitch diameter of the secondary split sheave increases as the torque applied to the load increases. The moveable portion of the driven sheave is fitted with a cam in the form of a helix in a hollow cylinder. A roller-type cam follower is mounted perpendicular to the sheave rotational axis on a stub shaft, or spider, that extends radially from the post, an axial extension of the fixed sheave portion. A spring biases the driven sheave portions toward maximum pitch diameter. Increased torque tends to rotate the moveable sheave portion with respect to the shaft and fixed sheave. As the moveable sheave rotates, the cam displaces the moveable sheave toward the fixed sheave. When the torque requirements are lessened, the primary sheave may rotate faster causing the fixed-length V-belt to force the driven sheave faces apart. The roller-spider, cam follower and helical cam assembly act in concert with the spring to provide additional torque when the demand is sensed. This new driven element responds to changing power requirements and loads more quickly and precisely than do previously known CVT secondary elements.

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Bagley, MN, United States of America

Shane Clair Okeson