A continuously variable transmission, a vehicular powertrain that includes a continuously variable transmission and a method of limiting belt slippage in a continuously variable transmission in a vehicle. The continuously variable transmission includes a pulley assembly, shafts, a clutch and hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is cooperative with both the clutch and the pulley assembly so that hydraulic pressures and associated clamping forces sent to both allow the clutch to preferentially absorb any driving load coming from the axle and wheels that is in excess of the normal load experienced at the continuously variable transmission. This in turn means that any additional load that would ordinarily cause slippage in the belt is instead experienced by the clutch. By providing such a clutch, the pump of the hydraulic system does not need to be oversized in order to provide excess clamping force, as any excess load experienced by the shaft that is coupled to the wheels of the vehicle will be taken up by slippage in the clutch so that slippage-related wear to the belt is avoided.

A snowmobile has a two-stroke engine having an electronic reverse function so that a crankshaft can be selectively rotated in forward and reverse rotation directions. A gearbox has a first shaft coupled to a countershaft, a second shaft extending parallel to the first shaft, first transmission gears mounted to the first shaft and second transmission gears mounted to the second shaft. The first transmission gears are in constant mesh with the second transmission gears to form high and low gear pairings. A shifter is operable for selectively operating the gearbox in one of a high gear, a low gear and a neutral gear. The engine is selectively operable in the forward and reverse rotation directions while the gearbox is operated in at least one of the high gear, the low gear and the neutral gear.

A pulley propulsion device for an automatic transmission, which includes a fixed pulley, and a movable pulley constituted capable of relative displacement along a rotation axis of a pulley with respect to the fixed pulley, is provided. The pulley propulsion device includes a movable member constituted capable of relative rotation around a rotation axis of the pulley with respect to the movable pulley, a fixed member whose rotation with respect to a pulley case is regulated and adapted to give linear displacement to the movable member along the rotation axis of the pulley on the basis of rotation thereof, a driving mechanism having an electric motor and adapted to cause an output torque of the electric motor to be transmitted to the movable member and to cause the movable pulley to generate a predetermined pulley thrust, and a load sensor adapted to detect a load applied on the fixed member.

A pulley propulsion device for an automatic transmission, which includes a fixed pulley, and a movable pulley constituted capable of relative displacement along a rotation axis of a pulley with respect to the fixed pulley, is provided. The pulley propulsion device includes a movable member constituted capable of relative rotation around a rotation axis of the pulley with respect to the movable pulley, a fixed member whose rotation with respect to a pulley case is regulated and adapted to give linear displacement to the movable member along the rotation axis of the pulley on the basis of rotation thereof, a driving mechanism having an electric motor and adapted to cause an output torque of the electric motor to be transmitted to the movable member and to cause the movable pulley to generate a predetermined pulley thrust, and a load sensor adapted to detect a load applied on the fixed member.

A square baler (30) includes a chassis (32), a plunger (36), and a variable speed transmission (42). The plunger assembly (36) includes a reciprocating plunger head (76) slidably mounted relative to the chassis (32) and operable to reciprocate within a chamber (54) to apply a compressive force against the material. The transmission (42) includes drive (86) and driven components (90) and an endless drive element (98) that drivingly interconnects the components. The driven component is drivingly connected to the plunger head. The drive component is operable to be driven by a prime mover at a drive input speed. At least one of the components has an adjustable operating diameter so that the driven component has a variable output speed.

A square baler (30) includes a chassis (32), a plunger (36), and a variable speed transmission (42). The plunger assembly (36) includes a reciprocating plunger head (76) slidably mounted relative to the chassis (32) and operable to reciprocate within a chamber (54) to apply a compressive force against the material. The transmission (42) includes drive (86) and driven components (90) and an endless drive element (98) that drivingly interconnects the components. The driven component is drivingly connected to the plunger head. The drive component is operable to be driven by a prime mover at a drive input speed. At least one of the components has an adjustable operating diameter so that the driven component has a variable output speed.

The control mode is switched between a first control mode configured to control the speed change pump based on an actual speed ratio being an actual speed ratio of the variator, and a second control mode configured to control the speed change pump based on an actual working pressure being an actual working pressure of the variator. In the first control mode, the actual speed ratio is calculated based on a detected value of a vehicle speed; and the speed change pump is controlled to cause the actual speed ratio to approach the target speed ratio. In the second control mode, the actual working pressure is detected and the speed change pump is controlled to cause the actual working pressure to approach a target working pressure corresponding to the target speed ratio. In a situation or a condition where the detection accuracy of the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor decreases, the control mode is switched from the first control mode to the second control mode.

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.

A continuously variable transmission housing including an inner cover and an outer cover that define an interior chamber that is structured and operable to enclose a continuously variable transmission primary pulley, secondary pulley and pulley belt. The housing includes a duct panel mounted to the inner cover such that when the primary pulley is disposed within the interior chamber, the duct panel is disposed between an outer face of the primary pulley and the inner cover. An air duct is defined between the inner cover and the duct panel, wherein the air duct is fluidly connected to ambient air from an ambient environment external to the housing. The duct panel forms at least a portion of an ambient air inlet of the housing and includes a center opening that structured and operable to allow the ambient air to be drawn through the air duct and into the housing interior chamber.