Importance

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Abstract

A continuously variable power transmission including a driving pulley and a driven pulley that each include a fixed face and a movable face, the movable face being movable in a direction toward and away from the fixed face to vary the effective driving radius of the respective pulleys and thereby vary the drive ratio. The movable face of the driving pulley is actuated by a centrifugal weight assembly including a primary weight and a secondary weight each mounted on a common pivot axis. The primary and secondary weights are adapted to rotate together during a low speed range of operation of the driving pulley and the primary weight operates alone have a predetermined driving pulley speed, in order to permit rapid response to increased torque requirements at high driving pulley speeds. The driving pulley includes a rolling contact bearing between the fixed and movable faces to prevent relative sliding movement between the drive belt and the drive shaft, to eliminate belt squealing when the driven pulley is rotating and the drive pulley is at rest, as for example during downhill coasting of a vehicle having a belt drive power transmission.

First Claim