Experimental Study of CVT for Improving Belt Life by Analyzing the Thermal properties of Sheave Material

Abstract

Abstract The CVT or Continuously Variable Transmission is a power transmission device used as a mode of Automatic transmission system with a continuum range of gearing ratios due to its cam-ed sheave design. There are several different design other than conically sloped pulley system, but all of them work on same principle. Previous studies and applications have looked into the problem of heating of the CVT sheaves and belt which has led to reduction of transmission efficiency and reduction of belt life as well as life of sheaves and other parts. Mainly two reasons behind this phenomenon - first, the practical and commercial CVT is far from ideal and has belt slippage in general working environment and then second from this dynamic friction, higher temperatures are observed which in return causes more slippage especially in case of rubber belt which is the most widely used type. After software analysis, choose a thermally best material for the sheaves as a result of the analysis and manufacture a custom CVT and a test rig for it. Thus, finally the testing of such practical apparatus would suggest true results and confirmation to the hypothesis as well as compiling data about the test, equipment working and hurdles in practicality and commercial transformation of the project. In closure, the objective is improvement of CVT belt life by customizing the sheave material of the CVT.