power transmission NOT using gears/chains?

[Frank(Aflak)]

I was toying with possible gearbox/transmission ideas as a start for next year, and I was wondering if polyurethane or however that is spelled rollers would work to transmitt power like a gear.

specifically, I was thinking about MrB's white pages gear ratio thing that had an idea for a CVT at the bottom, and was wondering is high traction rollers would work.

overview: mrB had two cones side by side, one with the base at the top of the drawing, on with the base at the bottom, so there was a constant distance between them. And in between them was a gear/roller that could move in the space between them. At one end it was close to the base on one and the narrow part of the other, at the other end it was reversed . . so as you slide it back and forth the gear ratio changes. Gears could not work for this design, at least not without very very complicated tooth patters, and maybe not even then. But what if you used high traction rollers? It would even act as a clutch of sorts, if you could vary the tension.

so, how would I get good sticky stuff to put around cones? Also, the roller in the middle may be hard to move, so maybe an omni wheel type thing would be best. or just really powerful actuator to move it.

MrB's spreadsheet is here.


Well, really what I want is polyurethane/other sticky stuff suppliers to scout.

end.