Abstract: An endless metal belt including a ring formed by laminating endless metal plates; and multiple elements continuously attached to the ring. Each of the elements has a body, a head connected to the body by a pillar, and slots formed between the body and the head on left and right sides of the pillar, respectively, for receiving the ring. The elements satisfy the equations (h/t)<1 and (S/h)>40, where h is a width of the slots, t is a plate thickness of the elements, and S is an area of the head.

Abstract: A continuously variable belt transmission for a vehicle which can generate a cancellation hydraulic pressure for cancellation with a simple construction, as well as urge a movable sheave in the direction for producing a belt pressing force even at the time a vehicle is towed. A member to form a first hydraulic chamber P1 where a pressing force acting on the movable sheave is generated and a circular member forming a part of a second hydraulic chamber P2 where a hydraulic pressure is generated to cancel a centrifugal hydraulic pressure generated in the first hydraulic chamber P1 are provided, wherein the circular member is formed of an elastic member urging the movable sheave in the direction for generating the belt pressing force at a position of the movable sheave in a predetermined gear ratio.

Abstract: An endless metal belt including a ring formed by laminating endless metal plates; and multiple elements continuously attached to the ring. Each of the elements has a body, a head connected to the body by a pillar, and slots formed between the body and the head on left and right sides of the pillar, respectively, for receiving the ring. The elements satisfy the equations (h/t)<1 and (S/h)>40, where h is a width of the slots, t is a plate thickness of the elements, and S is an area of the head.

Abstract: A belt type continuously variable transmission in which a pulley shaft is supported by bearings provided at two positions that are apart from each other in an axial direction of the pulley shaft and a supply oil passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to a pulley hydraulic chamber includes a radial direction oil passage that is formed in the pulley shaft, the radial direction oil passage is formed on an outside of an area between the two positions. Also, one of the bearings is provided near the radial direction oil passage and on an outer surface side of a cylinder member whose inner surface side forms the pulley hydraulic chamber for a movable sheave that is fixed to the pulley shaft. With this structure, concentration of stress on the radial direction oil passage can be avoided, and therefore strength of the pulley shaft can be secured.

Abstract: A belt type continuously variable transmission in which a pulley shaft is supported by bearings provided at two positions that are apart from each other in an axial direction of the pulley shaft and a supply oil passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to a pulley hydraulic chamber includes a radial direction oil passage that is formed in the pulley shaft, the radial direction oil passage is formed on an outside of an area between the two positions. Also, one of the bearings is provided near the radial direction oil passage and on an outer surface side of a cylinder member whose inner surface side forms the pulley hydraulic chamber for a movable sheave that is fixed to the pulley shaft. With this structure, concentration of stress on the radial direction oil passage can be avoided, and therefore strength of the pulley shaft can be secured.

Abstract: A continuously variable belt transmission for a vehicle which can generate a cancellation hydraulic pressure for cancellation with a simple construction, as well as urge a movable sheave in the direction for producing a belt pressing force even at the time a vehicle is towed. A member to form a first hydraulic chamber P1 where a pressing force acting on the movable sheave is generated and a circular member forming a part of a second hydraulic chamber P2 where a hydraulic pressure is generated to cancel a centrifugal hydraulic pressure generated in the first hydraulic chamber P1 are provided, wherein the circular member is formed of an elastic member urging the movable sheave in the direction for generating the belt pressing force at a position of the movable sheave in a predetermined gear ratio.

Abstract: In a neutral N control for substantially equalizing axial forces to act on two pulleys, a belt type continuously variable transmission (CVT) self-converges into the gear neutral point (GN) at which the output shaft RPM takes the value 0. When the convergence is made to the GN point to establish a no-load state, the CVT establishes a force F.sub.A to converge into a pulley ratio of 1.0, in which it is stabilized by itself. A converging force F.sub.N to the GN point and the force F.sub.A toward the pulley ratio of 1.0 are repeated in a vortex shape in the load state and in the no-load state to establish a creep force. This creep force can be modified by generating a force F.sub.O against the force F.sub.A.

Abstract: For achieving a high accuracy line pressure control and a high line pressure, a valve control system outputs a first signal pressure to a primary regulator valve as a second signal pressure when the first signal pressure is low. The valve control system outputs a gain pressure higher than the first signal pressure to the primary regulator valve as the second signal pressure when the first signal pressure is high. A change amount of the line pressure from the primary regulator valve concerning with a change amount of the first signal pressure is a gain. The gain is a low gain which increases the accuracy of the line pressure control when the first signal pressure is low, and the gain is a high gain with which the high line pressure is output when the first signal pressure is high.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) has an increased speed of convergence on a neutral point by combining the rotation from the CVT and a constant velocity mechanism. At the neutral point the output member has zero rotation due to torque circulation. When a neutral state is determined to be needed based on the signals indicating the pulley ratio is within a predetermined range, with the throttle pedal being off or not depressed, and the brake pedal being on, the neutral control starts an operation to control the shaft force of both the primary and the secondary pulleys for the CVT. At the same time, the engine output is controlled by controlling the throttle opening degree and a predetermined torque is transmitted to the input shaft. As a result, the CVT converges on the gear neutral point (GN) at high speed due to an increase in the input torque of the CVT based on an increase in engine torque.

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission has a gear neutral (GN) point and serves as an output member by torque circulation. When a pulley ratio thereof is within a predetermined range from the GN point, a coasting state occurs which may hinder smooth torque transmission based on the transmission efficiency and generate a great engine braking effect (failure in the transmission resulting from the coasting state) based on a large gear ratio. When the pulley ratio assumes a predetermined value that may cause failure in transmission resulting from the coasting state, upon release of the accelerator pedal, an electronic throttle system performs control such that the engine outputs a predetermined torque. Thus a positive driving state is always established. In this state, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is shifted in the upshift direction to escape rapidly from a range defined by the pulley ratio of the predetermined value.