Electric Motor Placement in ATV V-Belt CVT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddle-type vehicles, such as ATVs, face challenges in achieving responsive speed change operations due to the delayed response of traditional centrifugal-type sheave drive mechanisms and the difficulty in integrating electric motors to control V-belt CVT groove widths, given the compact and specific structural constraints of these vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A compact and durable V-belt CVT system is designed with an electric motor and control device that adjusts the groove widths of the primary and secondary sheaves, where the electric motor is strategically located outside the vehicle body to avoid interfering with the rider's footrest and is positioned to minimize heat exposure, allowing for responsive speed changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an electric motor is installed between the primary sheave and secondary sheave to control groove widths, then speed change response is improved, but the vehicle structure becomes too complex and space is insufficient due to compact ATV design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the electric motor from the conventional position between primary and secondary sheaves to an external position on the vehicle body. This spatial reconfiguration in a different dimension allows the motor to drive the sheave mechanism without interfering with the compact belt chamber arrangement, thus maintaining speed control capability while adapting to ATV structural constraints
2Ease of manufacture
If the electric motor is positioned on the outer side of the vehicle body, then installation space is available, but the rider's footrest usage is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a particular location on the outer side of the vehicle body that is spatially separated from the rider's foot area. This localized positioning ensures the motor is installed in a region that provides adequate clearance from the footrest, allowing both motor installation and rider operation to function without interference
3Volume of moving object
If the electric motor is placed near the engine, then space is saved, but the motor is exposed to excessive heat affecting its performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electric motor from the engine vicinity and relocates it to a thermally isolated position on the outer side of the vehicle body. This separation removes the motor from the harmful thermal environment generated by the engine, protecting it from excessive heat while still maintaining compact overall vehicle dimensions through optimized spatial arrangement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a highly responsive speed change operation that is not compromised by heat exposure, ensuring the electric motor's longevity and maintaining the ATV's compactness and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a sheave drive mechanism for transmitting a driving force of the electric motor (38) to the movable sheave half (32a) of the primary sheave (32)
Implementation Method 2
an endless V-belt (35) received in the respective V-grooves (32c, 34c) of the primary sheave (32) and the secondary sheave (34) to transmit a rotational driving force between both the sheaves
Implementation Method 3
A previous type of sheave drive mechanism, in general was the so-called centrifugal type, which utilized centrifugal force produced according to the engine speed to displace a movable sheave half in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
In a V-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) of an ATV, a movable sheave half of a primary sheave is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to a fixed sheave half, and a sheave drive mechanism for controlling the respective groove widths of the primary sheave and a secondary sheave through a driving force by an electric motor is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the movable sheave half of the primary sheave. A footboard of the ATV is located on the outer side of the V-belt CVT in the vehicle width direction and below a primary sheave shaft and a secondary sheave shaft. A portion of the electric motor is located above and in front of the primary sheave shaft as viewed in the sheave shaft direction. A straddle-type vehicle having the compact, yet durable V-belt continuously variable transmission achieves a speed change operation highly responsive to the vehicle running condition.