The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 21, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1997
Mitchell D Johnson, Roseau, MN (US);
Gregory G Lislegard, Roseau, MN (US);
Michael R Trihey, Roseau, MN (US);
Steven D Corneliusen, Salol, MN (US);
Joel H Anderson, Alvarado, MN (US);
Steven L Johnson, Roseau, MN (US);
Barry Walton, Middle River, MN (US);
David C Ochab, Horesheads, NY (US);
Brent Barron, Elmira, NY (US);
Polaris Industries Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system for use on snowmobiles, ATV's and similar vehicles. The CVT includes a rotatable drive clutch connected to an input shaft (the input shaft being connectable to an engine), and a roller clutch carried on the input shaft. The CVT also includes a rotatable driven clutch connected to an output shaft, the driven clutch having a laterally stationary sheave and a laterally movable sheave that is normally biased toward the stationary sheave. An endless flexible drive belt is disposed about the drive and driven clutches. The clutches and drive belt are configured so that when the engine is idling the belt firmly engages a drive surface of the roller clutch that is connected to the drive clutch. The roller clutch permits the drive surface (and, therefore, the belt) to remain stationary when the input shaft is rotating, thereby preventing vehicle 'creep' when idling, and, yet, the roller clutch also firmly engages the drive clutch's drive surface with the input shaft when the driven clutch attempts to drive the belt faster than the speed at which the drive clutch and input shaft are rotating, thereby permitting the driven clutch to backdrive the input shaft and engine to provide engine braking to the vehicle.