LAUSR

Abstract A wire-rope continuously variable transmission (WR-CVT) obtained by modifying a metal-belt continuously variable transmission (MB-CVT) is proposed. From a comparative analysis of the WR-CVT metal ring and the MB-CVT closed wire rope, the WR-CVT is found in preliminary findings to operate normally. Experiments on a WR-CVT prototype demonstrate the transmission principle confirming the finding. A geometric model of the closed wire rope with its distinctive strand pattern was developed using Pro/Engineer software. Using the finite element method, wire stress was analyzed with the results indicating that stress is less in the core strand than in the six outer strands. Each of the six outer strands has a side wire in contact with the semi-circular notch of the metal block. Stress is significantly higher in these two side wires than in the other side wires. The stress distribution in the WR-CVT closed wire rope is different from that of a wire rope in continuous sheave contact, indicating that the former with its discrete contact points with the metal blocks exhibits "stress stepping" different from that reported in previous studies.