A variable transmission system for a vehicle is configured such that, when a magnitude of a hydraulic pressure detected by an hydraulic pressure sensor is a first predetermined value or more, a chord portion of a chain belt is pressed such that a raceway length of the chain belt is extended by at least a circumferential extension amount of the chain belt at the time when the magnitude of the hydraulic pressure is the first predetermined value. Hereby, it is possible to restrain the chain belt from coming off from a sheave even in a low vehicle speed range, at a low cost, without causing a fuel efficiency decrease and a driving torque decrease of the vehicle.

A pulley wheel rack includes a first rack part and a second rack part; a pulley wheel space between the first rack part and the second rack part; a first frame arranged to the first rack part, and a second frame arranged to the second rack part; an axle configured to extend from the first frame to the second frame, and configured to be rotatable into different securable positions by a ball joint arranged into the first frame and the second frame; and a pulley wheel bearing-mounted on the axle by hub bearings, and including at least one traction surface for engaging an elevator rope. A method for aligning a pulley wheel in a pulley wheel rack is also disclosed.

In one variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable within a driving plane, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion wherein the adjustable pulley portion is rotatable relative to the base pulley portion within the driving plane, and a driving member including an end coupled to the adjustable pulley portion wherein at least a portion of the driving member is wrapped at least partially around the adjustable pulley portion. In another variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable around an axis, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion and movable in a first direction parallel to the axis, and a sliding block engaged with the adjustable pulley portion, wherein the sliding block moves in a second direction different from the first direction, in response to compression of the adjustable pulley portion against the base pulley portion.

In one variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable within a driving plane, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion wherein the adjustable pulley portion is rotatable relative to the base pulley portion within the driving plane, and a driving member including an end coupled to the adjustable pulley portion wherein at least a portion of the driving member is wrapped at least partially around the adjustable pulley portion. In another variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable around an axis, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion and movable in a first direction parallel to the axis, and a sliding block engaged with the adjustable pulley portion, wherein the sliding block moves in a second direction different from the first direction, in response to compression of the adjustable pulley portion against the base pulley portion.

A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone. An actuator actuates the pulley segments between the engaging and non-engaging positions when the pulley segments are outside of the contact zone. One of the key pulley segments in the pulley segment set is a key pulley segment that is positioned relative to the core pulley such that when the key pulley segment is actuated to the engaging position and rotated into the contact zone, the corresponding mating features of the endless drive member engage the first set of mating features of the core pulley and the second set of mating features of the key pulley segment without the introduction of significant slack or tension.

A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone. An actuator actuates the pulley segments between the engaging and non-engaging positions when the pulley segments are outside of the contact zone. One of the key pulley segments in the pulley segment set is a key pulley segment that is positioned relative to the core pulley such that when the key pulley segment is actuated to the engaging position and rotated into the contact zone, the corresponding mating features of the endless drive member engage the first set of mating features of the core pulley and the second set of mating features of the key pulley segment without the introduction of significant slack or tension.

A drive pulley for a CVT has a fixed sheave, a fixed sheave shaft fixedly connected to the fixed sheave, a movable sheave, a movable sheave shaft fixedly connected to the movable sheave, a spider and at least one centrifugal actuator. The fixed sheave shaft is disposed at least in part inside the movable sheave shaft. The movable sheave is disposed axially between the spider and the fixed sheave. A biasing member biases the movable sheave axially away from the fixed sheave. A torque transfer assembly is operatively connected to at least one of the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The torque transfer assembly transfers torque between the fixed sheave and the movable sheave. The biasing member, the at least one centrifugal actuator and the torque transfer assembly are disposed radially outward of the fixed and movable sheave shafts.

In one variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable within a driving plane, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion wherein the adjustable pulley portion is rotatable relative to the base pulley portion within the driving plane, and a driving member including an end coupled to the adjustable pulley portion wherein at least a portion of the driving member is wrapped at least partially around the adjustable pulley portion. In another variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable around an axis, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion and movable in a first direction parallel to the axis, and a sliding block engaged with the adjustable pulley portion, wherein the sliding block moves in a second direction different from the first direction, in response to compression of the adjustable pulley portion against the base pulley portion.

In one variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable within a driving plane, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion wherein the adjustable pulley portion is rotatable relative to the base pulley portion within the driving plane, and a driving member including an end coupled to the adjustable pulley portion wherein at least a portion of the driving member is wrapped at least partially around the adjustable pulley portion. In another variation, a pulley arrangement includes a base pulley portion rotatable around an axis, an adjustable pulley portion coupled to the base pulley portion and movable in a first direction parallel to the axis, and a sliding block engaged with the adjustable pulley portion, wherein the sliding block moves in a second direction different from the first direction, in response to compression of the adjustable pulley portion against the base pulley portion.