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One of the primary tasks of the National Research Development Corporation is to provide financial and other support for technological developments of potential commercial importance. Among the projects upon which NRDC is engaged are vehicle transmissions, and we asked an executive working in this field to put his view on paper for CM's readers: this article is the result.
The development of infinitely variable transmissions for commercial vehicles has been followed by CM over the past 30 years and in recent years several leading commercial vehicle makers have cited the hydrostatic infinitely variable transmission as the ultimate type for road vehicles. It is significant that the split-torque transmission, evolved by Dr. J. G. Giles (CM March 13, 1964) is given special mention in this article.
Of possibly greater interest, however, is the claim that the Perbury rolling-friction drive, combined with an epicyclic gear, would give "extremely good" overall efficiencies. The Perbury drive is based on the Hayes roller gearbox that was offered as an option by the Austin Motor Company before the War.
The authors rather general observation that a continuously variableratio transmission could make an appearance in future commercial vehicles is perhaps a cautious understatement of the NR DC's confidence in the future of such transmissions for truck use. P.A.C.B.