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CVT idea (fixed "top gear" set?)
I have rented a few of them. The latest being a Sentra. Once you get used to odd sound/feel, they really aren't so bad. In fact, I kind of enjoyed the way I could "accelerate" if you want to call it that, with the tach sitting permanently at little more than idle. The sentra is a decent sized car and I still exceeded 40 mpg with ease.
But, I still don't like the mechanics of what is going on inside. It just seems as though tranny wear over time is inevitable. I was thinking there is a solution. How about a CVT which has as its top "gear" an actual direct gear drive. It could be 1:1 or even an overdrive.
A CVT is basically 2 variable pulleys on parrallel shafts. Why not add a pair of gears on this shaft that would engage when the engine got to its highest ratio.
In addition to lower wear, I believe this would increase efficiency as well. It seems like a very simple idea and I can't believe I am the first to come up with it. Maybe it already exists and I don't know about it.
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