Inertial Effects in a Multiple-Ball Transmission

Abstract

A new type of mechanical variable-speed transmission, which owes its improved efficiency and wear-life to the utilization of multiple point contacts in pure rolling, has a power capacity in proportion to the maximum tractive forces and rolling velocities developed by a large number of small steel balls. Designing for maximum power capacity depends on finding the point at which the components of tractive force arising from inertial effects at high speed become so large as to interfere with the proper kinematic action of the balls. Consideration is given to the influence of a number of design and operating parameters, such as ball diameter, cage diameter, cage velocities, and velocity ratio.