VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle includes a drive source, a continuously variable transmission, and a controller. The continuously variable transmission includes a primary sheave and a secondary sheave each having of a fixed flange and a movable flange. The movable flange of the primary sheave is moved by an electric motor to adjust the width of a groove of the primary sheave. The movable flange of the secondary sheave is normally urged in the direction to narrow the width of a groove of the secondary sheave by a spring and a secondary side actuator. The controller is connected to a sheave position detecting device, which outputs to the controller information on a position of the movable flange of the primary sheave during hard braking. When the vehicle is restarted, the controller controls the electric motor using the information on the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the construction of a conventional continuously variable transmission.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 1 during hard braking.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the construction of a continuously variable transmission in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the basic construction of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a movable flange with a torque cam mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a vehicle having the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating an area surrounding an engine.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of the engine and the continuously variable transmission.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a shift change during a restart of a vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operation in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: a drive source arranged to output power in response to an accelerator;a continuously variable transmission connected to the drive source; anda controller arranged to electronically control the continuously variable transmission; whereinthe continuously variable transmission includes: a primary sheave and a secondary sheave each having a fixed flange and a movable flange, each flange being attached to a rotary shaft;a belt received in a V-groove of each of the primary sheave and the secondary sheave, the width of the V-groove being variable to steplessly control a speed change ratio;an electric motor connected to the controller and arranged to move the movable flange of the primary sheave to adjust the groove width of the primary sheave; anda spring and an actuator arranged to urge the movable flange of the secondary sheave in a direction to narrow the groove width thereof;the controller is connected to a sheave position detecting device arranged to detect a position of the movable flange of the primary sheave, the sheave position detecting device outputting to the controller information on the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave during hard braking; andthe controller controls the electric motor using the information on the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave during a restart of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a storage device that stores the information on the movable flange of the primary sheave during the hard braking; and when the vehicle is restarted, the controller controls the electric motor to move the movable flange of the primary sheave to the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave during the hard braking.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave detected by the sheave position detecting device is continuously stored in the storage device.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein during the restart of the vehicle, the controller sets the position of the movable flange of the primary sheave during the hard braking as a restart target position and controls the electric motor to move the movable flange of the primary sheave at a predetermined speed so as to achieve the restart target position; and when the movable flange of the secondary sheave starts rotation before the movable flange of the primary sheave reaches the restart target position, the controller controls the electric motor according to a driving map indicating the relationship between a normal vehicle speed and a position of the movable sheave of the primary sheave.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein during the restart of the vehicle, when the movable flange of the primary sheave has been moved beyond the predetermined position of movable flange of the primary sheave by the electric motor, the controller stops the control of the electric motor.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a maximum speed of the electric motor is controlled by the controller.

7. A vehicle comprising: a drive source arranged to output power in response to an accelerator;a continuously variable transmission connected to the drive source; anda controller arranged to electronically control the continuously variable transmission; whereinthe continuously variable transmission includes: a primary sheave and a secondary sheave each having a fixed flange and a movable flange, each flange being attached to a rotary shaft;a belt received in a V-groove of each of the primary sheave and the secondary sheave, the width of the V-groove being variable to steplessly control a speed change ratio;an electric motor connected to the controller and arranged to move the movable flange of the primary sheave to adjust the groove width of the primary sheave; anda spring and an actuator arranged to urge the movable flange of the secondary sheave in a direction to narrow the groove width thereof;the controller is connected to a sheave slip motion detecting device that detects a slip motion of the primary sheave, the sheave slip motion detecting device outputting to the controller information on the slip motion of the primary sheave when at least one drive wheel of the vehicle is stopped and the drive source is idling; andthe controller controls the electric motor until the primary sheave stops slipping.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the controller stops the movement of the movable flange of the primary sheave by the electric motor at a position of the primary sheave where the primary sheave stopped slipping to adjust the tension of the belt by the power of the drive source during idling.

9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the controller is connected to a sheave position detecting device that detects a position of the movable flange of the primary sheave; and during a restart of the vehicle, when the movable flange of the primary sheave has been moved beyond the predetermined position of the movable flange of the primary sheave by the electric motor, the controller stops the control of the electric motor.

10. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a maximum speed of the electric motor is controlled by the controller.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an all terrain vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a clutch mechanism positioned between the primary sheave and the drive source.

13. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is an all terrain vehicle.

14. The vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a clutch mechanism positioned between the primary sheave and the drive source.