neurocity

iTrader: (17)

This shows multiple gearing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc..) but still give us the idea of how it works.
We do not have the normal CVT metal snowmobile style belt drives in our cars.

2008GSh

that doesn't make sense 'cause our cars do not have any "real" gear ratio's and as I understand the system, reverse does not exist, and is just the electric drive motor running backwards.

neurocity

iTrader: (17)

My very first line in the thread says that this shows multiple gearing. 1st, 2nd, 3rd... But still gives an idea of how it works. The type of planetary gears.



The inside of our trans.

2008GSh

Ya, I got that, you note that it shows multiple gears... funny thing about our transmission, it does not produce multiple gears... it produces an infinite number of gears.

I still can't see how they do that with a cage of planetary, sun gear and ring gears, I understand the many FWD CVT use variable conical pulleys and a reenforced belt and that the GS 450H does not... but I still can't see how they achieve the magic of CV gears via a cage of fixed gears.. that will always produce a 1st, 2nd, 3rd...

neurocity

iTrader: (17)

So you haven't noticed the pause and pickup around 60-70mph. Technically we have a hi-lo setup. you can see it here. Right at about 120kmh the trans flips into a more efficient gearing.
Its not infinite.

2008GSh

Honestly, no I haven't felt that, and the video looks perfectly smooth and even too...

I've been thinking about this, and you could achieve an infinite "transition" of ratios with a sun, ring and planetary gears, IF you let the planetary gears "slip"...(in the video they are either "locked" or "free") That would create the effect of a lower "in-between" gears... or the opposite if they were boosted, that could create overdrive... You could only achieve that with electromagnetic support. As they slip in lower gears the energy lost to "slippage" could be collected in the battery... and returned in the higher gears... I have no idea if that's how it works... If that is the case, there is good and bad news with that... It would make our transmissions mechanically simpler than a regular automatic... but it would make them 100% vulnerable to a failure of the hybrid motor..

TexGS450

Glad I came across this thread because I've been thinking the CVT sounds like its changing gears!!