A drive sheave assembly of a continuously variable transmission is provided that includes a post, a fixed sheave, a movable sheave assembly, a sleeve and an engine braking assembly. The engine braking assembly includes an axial activation member, a one-way engagement member and a flange. The axial activation member is statically mounted within a central recess of the fixed sheave. The axial activation member is movably connected with the one-way engagement member. A central passage of the one-way engagement member is configured to engage a portion of the sleeve. The flange is coupled to the one-way engagement member to selectively engage a side of an endlessly looped member with axial movement of the one-way engagement member during an engine braking condition.

A continuously variable speed transmission and steering differential having a central drive axle, two pairs of sheaves and two shift arms. The drive axel is driven by an external power source. The two pairs of sheaves, left and right, are mounted to the drive axel. Each pair of sheaves includes a fixed drive sheave and a movable drive sheave. Each movable drive sheave is positioned by a shift arm. Shifting the shift arms left or right varies the gear ratio between the left and right pair of sheaves thereby providing steering control. Narrowing the distance between the shaft arms increases the gear ratio and consequently puts the transmission into a higher gear, thereby providing speed control.

A continuously variable speed transmission and steering differential having a central drive axle, two pairs of sheaves and two shift arms. The drive axel is driven by an external power source. The two pairs of sheaves, left and right, are mounted to the drive axel. Each pair of sheaves includes a fixed drive sheave and a movable drive sheave. Each movable drive sheave is positioned by a shift arm. Shifting the shift arms left or right varies the gear ratio between the left and right pair of sheaves thereby providing steering control. Narrowing the distance between the shaft arms increases the gear ratio and consequently puts the transmission into a higher gear, thereby providing speed control.

An exhaust device incorporated in a vehicle for travel on uneven terrains. The exhaust device includes an air blowing device and an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas generated in a prime mover is directed out of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe includes an upstream pipe, a downstream pipe, and a joint device joining the upstream pipe to the downstream pipe in a manner permitting the upstream pipe to move relative to the downstream pipe, the air blowing device being disposed to blow cooling air toward the joint device.

An exhaust device incorporated in a vehicle for travel on uneven terrains. The exhaust device includes an air blowing device and an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas generated in a prime mover is directed out of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe includes an upstream pipe, a downstream pipe, and a joint device joining the upstream pipe to the downstream pipe in a manner permitting the upstream pipe to move relative to the downstream pipe, the air blowing device being disposed to blow cooling air toward the joint device.

A vehicle includes a power plant, continuously variable transmission (CVT), drive wheels, sensors, and controller. The CVT achieves a fixed gear/positive engagement and friction drive modes, and includes an input member that receives input torque from the power plant, an output member, and a variator assembly having drive and driven variator pulleys. The pulleys are connected to each other via an endless rotatable drive element, and to a respective one of the input and output members. Pulley actuators change a CVT speed ratio. The controller calculates a relative slip of the pulleys using measured speeds and displacements from the sensors, reduces the relative slip until the relative slip is below a calibrated speed limit or within a calibrated speed range via actuator control signal to the pulley actuators, and commands the fixed gear/positive engagement mode via positive engagement control signals to the CVT until the relative slip reaches zero.

A vehicle includes a power plant, continuously variable transmission (CVT), drive wheels, sensors, and controller. The CVT achieves a fixed gear/positive engagement and friction drive modes, and includes an input member that receives input torque from the power plant, an output member, and a variator assembly having drive and driven variator pulleys. The pulleys are connected to each other via an endless rotatable drive element, and to a respective one of the input and output members. Pulley actuators change a CVT speed ratio. The controller calculates a relative slip of the pulleys using measured speeds and displacements from the sensors, reduces the relative slip until the relative slip is below a calibrated speed limit or within a calibrated speed range via actuator control signal to the pulley actuators, and commands the fixed gear/positive engagement mode via positive engagement control signals to the CVT until the relative slip reaches zero.

A slide rail for a belt-drive transmission includes a slide channel and a pivoting receptacle. The slide channel includes a first slide surface for damping contact on a strand of a belt of the belt-drive transmission, a second slide surface for damping contact on the strand, antagonistic to the first slide surface, and a channel height formed by the first slide surface and the second slide surface. The pivoting receptacle is arranged for pivoting support of the slide rail on a pivoting means of the belt-drive transmission. A one of the first slide surface or the second slide surface includes an elevation extending toward the belt such that the one of the first slide surface or the second slide surface is displaced over a profile along a longitudinal direction in a transversal direction.

A slide rail for a belt-drive transmission includes a slide channel and a pivoting receptacle. The slide channel includes a first slide surface for damping contact on a strand of a belt of the belt-drive transmission, a second slide surface for damping contact on the strand, antagonistic to the first slide surface, and a channel height formed by the first slide surface and the second slide surface. The pivoting receptacle is arranged for pivoting support of the slide rail on a pivoting means of the belt-drive transmission. A one of the first slide surface or the second slide surface includes an elevation extending toward the belt such that the one of the first slide surface or the second slide surface is displaced over a profile along a longitudinal direction in a transversal direction.

A compression control device for a continuously variable transmission is provided in which the compression control device that controls the compression of either one of shaft elements of the continuously variable transmission calculates a slip state matrix from an amplitude ratio between a variable component of a rotational speed of the input shaft and a variable component of a rotational speed of the output shaft, a phase lag that is an indicator of difference in phase between a variable component of the rotational speed of the input shaft and a variable component of the rotational speed of the output shaft, and a gear ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, estimates a power transmission state among the input shaft element, the output shaft element, and the power transmission element based on an eigenvalue sequence calculated from the slip state matrix, and controls compression.