Abstract: A snowmobile is disclosed having improved drive train including a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a drive belt looped around a driving pulley and a driven pulley, and a transversely arranged jackshaft wherein the driven pulley is connected directly onto the outer surface of one end of the jackshaft. The transverse jackshaft is preferably made from a thin-walled hollow tube and the driven pulley is preferably press fitted thereon. A method of assembling a snowmobile drive train is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oil skimmer for removing oil floating on surfaces of bodies of water. The oil skimmer includes a support frame, respective drive pulley and guide pulleys rotatably mounted to the support frame on respective shafts, and a drive train which rotatively drives the drive pulley and guide pulleys. A skimmer hose in the form of a loop to which oil adhere floats on the body of water and is driven by the drive pulley through the guide pulley onto and off the surface of the body of water carrying adhered oil. A skimmer hose scraper disposed between the drive and guide pulleys removes the oil from the skimmer hose into a collection receptacle. The drive and guide pulleys comprise replaceable, quick changing inner and outer pulley halves that sandwich respective central hubs therebetween to space the pulley halves to fit skimmer hoses of different cross-sectional sizes. The central hubs with attached drive and guide pulley halves are affixed to the drive shafts using a quick release nut which threads to the shafts.

Abstract: A pulley tire (10) and rim (12), the rim (12) comprising two rim halves (14, 16) adapted to be mounted to a hub (18) and to clampingly engage the pulley tire (10), the pulley tire (10) having provided thereon one or more upstanding members (46), wherein the rim halves (14, 16) are adapted to receive the upstanding members (46) when engaging the pulley tire (10) so as to minimize relative movement therebetween.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft and pulley arrangement (1) has a tube (2) made of a suitable metal and having ends with knurled outside peripheries (3) onto which pulleys (5, 8) are press fit and laser welded for balanced low-weight attachment. A keyway (9) is stamped into a central portion of the tube to minimize weight imbalance and cost. An attachment wall (10) as preferably a ring groove is rolled into the tube to provide a circumferential attachment base for a fastener head (13) having a fastener shaft (15) that is threaded into an engine shaft for attachment of the tube to the engine shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical torque enhancing assembly for increasing the torque output of a pulley. The mechanical torque enhancing assembly includes a drum assembly that has an interior space, a belt receiving groove that extends around an outer perimeter edge of the drum assembly, a converter plate, and a plurality of drive pins coupled to the interior space. The plurality of drive pins are each positioned proximate the belt receiving groove at a predetermined spaced distance from each other. A plurality of drive panels that have a first end and a second end are also positioned within the interior space of the drum assembly. The first end of each of the drive panels is coupled to an associated drive pin. The second end of each of the drive panels is coupled to the converter plate. Thus, when the drum assembly rotates each of the drive panels acts as a lever and the converter plate acts as a fulcrum thereby increasing the torque on the converter plate.

Abstract: A modular V-belt sheave which, in a specific embodiment, has two end modules and a hub connected to at least one of the modules and may have one or more intermediate modules and the modules are secured together by a plurality of tying members extending through aligned holes in the modules, the members preferably consisting of cast metal, such as aluminum, with heads on the opposite ends of the elements. The members are cast into the aligned holes and, as the members cool, they contract, holding the modules firmly together. A hub may be used which preferably has a radial member seating between two of the modules and having a plurality of holes for alignment with the holes in the modules and for receiving the tying members so that the members will rigidly secure the modules to the radial member.

Abstract: A sheet metal drive disc-pulley assembly adapted for driving rotation by a V-belt to drive a friction wheel such as that in a lawn mower or other mechanism using a drive assembly. Two of three, coaxial, circular pieces of sheet metal define a bearing pocket, which axially and radially locates a bearing unit, and a V-belt receiving groove which, in the preferred embodiment, is spaced outwardly and radially aligned with the bearing pocket for proper resistance to belt tension. The marginal edge of the generally planar, third piece is bent and clamped around the periphery of a conical brace extending from the flared edge of the V-belt groove on one of the first two pieces to form a radially extending friction wheel engaging disc.

Abstract: A line gripping pulley for a line hauler includes a pair of identical backing discs and a pair of identical wear discs, one for each backing disc and held thereagainst when the discs are assembled and clamped together.