PS
I searched, said there were nowt about
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Probably gone the same as the Hobbs and the Perbury (IIRC) transmissions.
Was at Kelham Island museum recently and they had a Wilkinson light car there with a friction drive which gave continuously variable gearing (in theory).
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About 10 years ago now, I went for a job interview with Torotrak. I found the engineers who interviewed me to be very un-professional, their attitudes to the company and future of the transmission were very offputting, and I'm not altogether surprised that the transmissions haven't been a raging success.
Happily, I used their job offer to play off against another employer, and did quite well out of the situation. Thank you Torotrak.
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An interesting observation, NC which I can share. When involved in heavy diesel engine testing I did some work for these people - and would not disagree with your findings.
On a more general note, I fail to see how a transmission which relies on the transmission of drive through pressurised rollers can have any useful longevity given the implied breakdown of the lubrication film. The spalling of the raceways at failure was very similar to that found in a rolling bearing when run under load without lubrication. I wonder why...
It's best not to stick your head in the fire when designing what is to become a product which will provide lasting value to a customer. Mother Nature and Sod's Law will provide plenty of work to be overcome during development, even if your original concept is sound.
There are very few, if any automotive CVTs which have been successful in the long term, although industrial and military generator and hydraulic pump drives using this principle have fared slightly better.
659.
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They're still going; I've got a friend who works for them. I think they're concentrating on heavy vehicles rather than the smaller private vehicle market.
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