Ford Motor Company over the past two decades has been studying various types of Infinitely Variable (I.V.) Transmissions for improving passenger car fuel economy. Of the traction drive mechanisms investigated, the Forster I.V. transmission appeared the most attractive because it reduces the complexity and manufacturing costs associated with other traction drives by virtue of its unique ratio-changing mechanism. Ford Motor Company was awarded contract E(11-1)-2674 on July 1, 1975 to study an infinitely variable traction drive transmission based upon the Forster Concept. The program plan was set-up in two phases. Phase I consisted of a design study, whereby the traction drive mechanism was experimentally and analytically evaluated and an I.V. transmission designed. Phase II, contingent on the outcome of Phase I, was to cover the build, vehicle evaluation and a manufacturing cost study. Testing and stress analysis of the flexible discs proved that the concept was not a feasible design, therefore Phase II (transmission build) was not recommended. In an effort to obtain baseline data on traction coefficients and efficiencies of traction drive transmissions a contract extension was awarded. Rigid discs with fixed geometry were designed to develop this data. (ERA citation 04:006225)
Continuously Variable Transmission. Final Technical Report
1977
176 pages
Report
No indication
English