A VARIABLE GEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

A VARIABLE GEAR

SIMPLE CONTROL AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF GEAR RATIO , 1 A novel infinitely variable gear with t many notable features which has re- j eently appeared is the invention of Mr F. Ljungstrom. of Stockholm, an en- p gineer whose name is well known in r connection with turbines and other en- i gineering works in Sweden. The gear is entirely controlled by one ‘ pedal, thus reducing the driving of a car to the last degree of simplicity, j The effect on driving a car fitted with 1 this gear is that the engine can be s started in the usual manner, but no i motion will be imparted to the car un- t til the pedal is operated. The brakes are normally in the “on” position, and ; a slight depression of the single pedal i takes them off and permits free-wheel- < ing. A further depression of the pedal ‘ causes the car to begin to move slowly, and, as it is depressed to its utmost, t not only does the engine develop its J

full power but, in addition, the transImission provides exactly the right ratio Ithat will permit the engine to retain its full output. It automatically adjusts the ratio between the engine and the road wheels according to the resistance due to inertia or gradient. By this means the driver has only to look after his engine speed, and the ratio between engine and road wheels will automatically look after itself. This gear differs in important details /from the infinitely variable gear employed on the Constantinesco car which was recently put into production.