Title: Variable pulley transmission

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Abstract: The present invention deals with a variable pulley transmission assembly operable between a prime mover and a driven means. The assembly includes input and output pulleys each with a movable sheave, where the pulleys are connected by a flexible belt, a fluid-actuated and fluid cooled starting clutch, a forward-reverse-neutral gear arrangement and a differential drive system connected to the driver means. The system also includes a control system to control the fluid actuated clutch and the movable sheaves. The clutch includes a deeply grooved pattern to provide adequate cooling with low pressure oil before its return to sump. This assembly provides a slippable clutch that acts analogously to a fuse under certain conditions to avoid excess loads to the belt means and also to provide lower operating pressure limits on the movable sheave maintaining belt tension. The clutch further provides a low end lugging limit slip to thereby avoid "torsionals" being transmitted past the clutch. The invention likewise provides a continuously variable pulley (CVT) transmission that has a ratio range of 5.4 to 1.


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