CVT

[Clark Gilbert]

Looks like CVT's are being used in more and more cars now a days...

Looks like Honda has put one in their new Honda Civic Hybrid

Civic Hybrid

[Greg McCoy]

Yeah, those are awesome.

I think it's too bad that no American car company has any of these kind of vehicles for sale.

[Matt Reiland]

Ehhh the Saturn (GM=American) Vue SUV has the option of a CVT

They are cool but the experience of driving a CVT is too strange for many people, floor it, the engine goes to redline and stays there while you accelerate. There are also problems with how much torque you can apply to a chain or belt before you shred it or cause it to have a VERY short life which is why we don't see many V-8's driving a CVT, maybe some day

[Quain]

well.. why would it have to be a belt?

[Greg McCoy]

Originally posted by Matt Reiland
Ehhh the Saturn (GM=American) Vue SUV has the option of a CVT

I stand corrected.

[Kris Verdeyen]

Originally posted by Quain
well.. why would it have to be a belt?

All CVT's that have been developed to the point of being ready for a commercial product are belt driven. However, check out this neat little idea:

http://www.mie.utoronto.ca/staff/pro...arch/mmo4.html

[Rob Colatutto]

hmm....who cares about cars, who wants one in thier robot? i know i do

[Matt Reiland]

Audi A6 3.0L actually uses a linked chain for transmission in its multitronic CVT that can withstand over 200 HP and 200 lbft torque with reliability and it is stated to be faster than a manual in performance.

We actually use a beltless CVT type device in some assembly plants which is known as CARTRAC or the spinning torque tube. The theory behind it is a rotating tube spinning perpendicular to the desired direction of movement. Wheels ride on the tube and change their angle to provide thrust. When the wheels match the orientation or the spinning tube the vehicle sits idle, as the angle increases toward 45 degrees thrust is applied to the vehicle

[asher]

The honda civic HX, not just the hybrid, has a CVT (I used to have one, before I totaled it on the way to the machine shop). It was so awesome, gas mileage like no other, and when anyone from my team would ride in my car they would just be amazed, or ask "is your car ok it dosnt shift" i miss that car

asher

[Kris Verdeyen]

Originally posted by Matt Reiland
We actually use a beltless CVT type device in some assembly plants which is known as CARTRAC or the spinning torque tube. The theory behind it is a rotating tube spinning perpendicular to the desired direction of movement. Wheels ride on the tube and change their angle to provide thrust. When the wheels match the orientation or the spinning tube the vehicle sits idle, as the angle increases toward 45 degrees thrust is applied to the vehicle

Do you have a diagram of this? It sounds really cool, but my poor EE mind is having some trouble picturing it.

[nick-190]

Team 190 used on our robot this year. It did not use belts nad worked on friction. Those who were at nationals probably saw it. It let use move 2 to 15 feet per second. As load was put on the motor it would shift down and if little to no load was on the motor it would shift up. This was all computer controlled. We did get a judges award for this at nationals this year. I would post a picture but i dont have one. I know that many other teams took pictures of it so ask around.

You can come see it at Ralley in the Valley May 18th or
BattleCry III (Great Competition just GO)@WPI on June 15th.