--On Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:45 PM -0700 Chalo <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3690927051
Looks like it might be some sort of hydraulic system, maybe similar to a
wet clutch?
Snowmobile CVTs use a belt and pulley arrangement, and they work for low
power applications.
Automotive CVTs tried this, failed, and then Audi said: "Hey, let's make
the belt more like a chain." the flexible metal belt was born, and car CVTs
use that sort now.
Both are mechanical linkages, like putting a cone on your crank and another
on your rear hub, and having a belt between the two. The advantage is there
is a gear for your cadence at every speed in its range, but I don't know if
this is the most effective way to put the power down in an hpv. It works
for internal combustion engines because there is an easily identifiable
point of peak efficiency, where the torque and fuel-mileage curves
intersect. But is that also true of people? Is there a specific cadence for
each individual person that will give optimum power output with regard to
"fuel" consumption? Is it reasonable?
Mike
Mechanical Engineering 2006, Carnegie Mellon University
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