Infinitely Variable Transmission

[tk-421]

A very interesting read. This inventor might just be on to something...

http://c0378172.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/steve-durnin-ddrive-d-drive-infinitely-variable-transmission-geared.jpg (http://www.gizmag.com/steve-durnin-ddrive-d-drive-infinitely-variable-transmission-geared/15088/)

Ready for a bit of a mental mechanical challenge? Try your hand at understanding how the D-Drive works. Steve Durnin's ingenious new gearbox design is infinitely variable — that is, with your motor running at a constant speed, the D-Drive transmission can smoothly transition from top gear all the way through neutral and into reverse. It doesn't need a clutch, it doesn't use any friction drive components, and the power is always transmitted
through strong, reliable gear teeth. In fact, it's a potential revolution in transmission technology.

http://www.gizmag.com/steve-durnin-ddrive-d-drive-infinitely-variable-transmission-geared/15088/

I'm interested to see what our resident car geeks have to say about this technology. Do you think it will replace current transmission systems?

[severous01]

that's awesome. i can't stand CVT in maxima or dodge stuff...

however, i drove the new 2011 bmw M3 the other day with the double clutch SMG...that's a bad baby there...its so smooth, you can't even tell its shifting.

[CTScott]

Actually my 1960's Gravely tractor has a transmission like that. In the Gravely it's done with planetary gears. It can go from full speed forward through neutral to full speed reverse, often resulting in yikes moments. It behaves similarly to hydrostatic transmissions, but is entirely gear based.

Here's a cutaway of a Gravely:
http://www.buynet.com/orseq/img/GR-cutaway.0.jpg

Here's a picture of one like mine, with the tiller attachment on it. I actually used mine today to rototill my garden.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/IMGP13781.jpg?t=1241436248