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Information from:
Popular Science April 1973, page 86
The article as published in Popular Science included a number of photographs showing various pieces and a drawing of the simple, yet very effective, transmission. The patents on this original transmission should have expired years ago. Therefore, it may be possible to mass-produce and market it to the general public.
There is a potential that the copyright may have been renewed on the 1973 article. Therefore, the editor will only give a paraphrase of it. Those wishing to study this transmission more thoroughly may be able to find the magazine, or microfilms of it, in libraries. It should also be available on the Internet via Google.
New Shiftless Automatic Is a Smoothie
The Variable Kinetic Drive (VKD) transmission consists mainly of a torque converter and a very simple shift box. This shift box allows shifting from park, to reverse, to neutral, and to forward. Because of its simplicity, the final cost of a production transmission could potentially be as little as one-half the cost of regular automatic transmissions.
The VKD transmission is very special, in that it cuts fuel consumption and reduces harmful exhaust emissions. It is a very simple design. There are no gears that shift when moving forward. There are no brake bands or sprag clutches, and no hydraulic servos. This special transmission even eliminates the complex and costly hydraulic valving systems and associated circuitry.
Because of its extreme simplicity, the VKD transmission should be relatively inexpensive to maintain. There are no wearing parts to adjust or replace. Because of the transmission's configuration, there should only be minimal bearing and planetary gear wear.
A special bonus with this simple transmission is its torque multiplication experienced on acceleration. Normal automatic transmissions may have a torque multiplication ratio of 2:1, or slightly higher. The VKD transmission has a torque multiplication ratio of about 4:1. In effect, it is like driving a vehicle which has a much larger engine.
The VKD process eliminates all shifts, when moving forward. There is a seamless speed increase from standstill to top speed. This is all accomplished by using a torque converter which has four elements, instead of just the three found in common automatic transmissions. The fourth element is a circulatory turbine which is placed between the impeller and the turbine.
The cirulatory turbine is a simple ring consisting of many narrow, variable-pitch blades. This turbine is connected to the impeller through a planetary gear train which is similar to the spider gears in a standard differential. In this system, the turbine returns power to the impeller which would normally be lost. As a result, the impeller is turned at a higher speed than it would be with a standard torque converter. This gives the system more torque to be used in propelling the vehicle.
The VKD transmission presents a whole new driving experience. For fast starts, the brakes are firmly applied while the engine speed is brought up to around 3000 rpm. When the brakes are released, the gas pedal is floored and the car rapidly accelerates. As the gas pedal is kept floored, engine speed remains at 3600 rpm, while the vehicle very rapidly gains speed.
The VKD system has another unique quality. After hard acceleration, letting up on the gas pedal moves the transmission into its 1:1 torque multiplication ratio. But the moment the accelerator is applied, this system is instantly ready to give higher torque multiplication.
Now for an important question. Why should the VKD transmission allow a vehicle to emit a lower amount of harmful exhaust pollutants? The answer: An engines can be configured to give more complete combustion at constant rpm.
Now for the quality which everyone feels in their pocket books. The VKD system allows for better fuel mileage. That was tested in over 35,000 miles of driving. How much better is the fuel mileage? Well, that depends on prevailing conditions. The system has shown that it can produce a 10 to 30 percent improvement in fuel mileage.
A REQUEST
The above technology does not appear to be common knowledge amongst the general public. It is a good technology whose simplicity momentarily flashed upon the public scene, and then disappeared. This simple technology could quickly and inexpensively change our world, and help break the public free from bondage to the energy monopolies. It could also greatly reduce or eliminate expensive transmission repair bills.
If you have any interesting or additional information about the particular VKD system presented in the Popular Science article of 1973, the producer of this website would like to hear from you. Please send your information via the method available below. Thank you.
The purpose of this website is to present information which may help to increase efficiency and reduce harmful emissions the logical and inexpensive way. The editor would like this website to become a center of valuable information: special information which many individuals may use to benefit their own research and experimentation. With your help, we can all benefit.