[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by phrontist

This isn't really a CVT , although I must admit it's interesting. It seems as though this design is far too complicated a heavy to be worthwhile. I was thinking about something like this:

http://www.gizmology.net/images/cvt5.gif

Just as the disk CVT evolved into the cone CVT, the toroidal CVT has evolved toward a cone-shape as well. The result is a much more compact transmission. This type is peculiar in that the speed ratio may be controlled by directly rotating the wheels, or by moving them slightly up or down, causing them to rotate and change the speed ratio on their own. - Taken from http://www.gizmology.net/

Has that ever been done before in FIRST?
More importantly, is there a good reason it hasn't been done?

Team 190 did this a couple or three years ago. As I recall it worked pretty well. You'll have to ask them why they haven't used it since.