Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb
Ok, I think I get it. This helped too and some googling on variators:
Just thinking out loud,
1. Maybe a longer belt with a spring loaded, lever controlled, idler pully on the bottom? So that you squeeze the lever and it adds a bunch of slack to the belt that the pulleys can't take up completely?
2. integrate a freewheel into the outside of the clutch housing? (bearing on the outside makes it tough). |
1 is right out, I'm afraid. Despite how it looks in the video, the pulley's pull on the belt HARD. The rear pulley is actually fighting the front pulley for gear ratio. Both would snap hard at the belt if it suddenly lost tension. Also, the belt would have to be held disengaged, as the clutch would remain locked up, along with the rear pulley.
2 gives me pause for thought. I can't for the life of me think of a design, but it is possible. Perhaps a video showing the inner workings of a free-wheeling clutch are in order?
Edit: OTOH, Ptero just posted a link that I need to investigate.