Method for monitoring a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission and method for preventing damage to the drive belt

• Main Authors: Giguere, Marc, Bernier, Michel, Aitcin, Xavier-Pierre, Schuehmacher, Bruno
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.10.2021
• Subjects: BLASTING; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

Monitoring is provided for a drive belt of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mounted in a vehicle having a motor driving the CVT. A rotational speed of the motor and a power level of the motor are sensed. An abuse indicator for the drive belt is set when, concurrently, the rotational speed of the motor increases at a rate that exceeds a change threshold and the power level of the motor exceeds a power threshold. A level of abuse of the drive belt is calculated based on a speed of the vehicle and on a drive belt temperature. Damage to the drive belt may be prevented by limiting a power output of the motor when an accumulated level of abuse exceeds an abuse threshold. A vehicle having an electronic control unit configured to perform the method is also disclosed.