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From: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Continuous Transmission
Message-ID: <721@othervax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Nov-85 11:37:19 EST
Article-I.D.: othervax.721
Posted: Fri Nov 15 11:37:19 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Nov-85 07:28:53 EST
References: <10878@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <293@mhuxl.UUCP>
Reply-To: ray@othervax.UUCP (Raymond D. Dunn)
Organization: Philips Information Systems - St. Laurent  P.Q., Canada
Lines: 41
Summary: 

> 
> 	As it was described to me, it is basically a pair of
> controllable variable diameter wheels linked by a belt; which
> enables the driver to choose among any of the infinitely many 
> transmission ratio possible.
> 

I can't find the original article from which this quote comes, so this may
all have been said before, but:

The Dutch auto company DAF used to make several models using this
transmission technology, which, if I remember correctly, they called the
Variomatic.

The transmission consists (simply) of two pulleys connected by a V-belt. Each
pulley is constructed in two halves, with the belt between the halves:

                   \ ___ /
                    \\_//
                     \ /        (edge-on view)
                     /_\
                    //_\\
                   /     \

The (horizontal in the diagram) distance between the halves determines the
effective diameter of the pulley to the V-belt.  When each of the two
pulleys is adjusted similarly but in the opposite sense, the belt length
required to connect them remains the same, but the ratio changes.

I do not know what the driver's input to the system was (ideally should the
engine run at a fixed optimal speed, and the "gas" pedal control the
transmission ratio!!!)

Daf was taken over by Volvo about 10-15 years ago, and I do remember that
Volvo then continued to produce at least one Volvo'ised styled version.

The Dutch plant is still in operation, and I believe there is some major
development on another transmission technology in the works.  Can any of
our European readers bring us up to date?

Ray Dunn  ..philabs!micomvax!othervax!ray