Get ready for a transmission revolution: Infinitely variable D-Drive

[EightySix Four]

i think this could be a great transmission, but it has some obstacles to overcome.

wind turbines use nothing of the sort to control pitch and in turn speed. both models i have worked on use large electric motors and a computer to change the pitch for optimum efficiency in the current wind conditions. this requires that there be a large electrical connection between the spinning rotor and the generator section, using very large slip rings, and the motor controller was even mounted in the nose cone on one.
current model turbines do not have different gear ratios and will only generate electricity between about 25 and 40mph wind speeds. i am not sure but i believe that the speed is regulated with load on the generators, along with the huge 4 caliper disk breaks. emergency braking is very crude with a 6in dia pin on the end of a ram that rams it into the path of part of the connection between the nose cone and the gear train. also, they use hydraulic and/or electric systems to turn the nacelle into the wind or out of it depending on wind direction/speed.

Just because the ones you worked on use the electric motor design doesn't mean all of them do.

Standard modern turbines all pitch the blades in high winds. Since pitching requires acting against the torque on the blade, it requires some form of pitch angle control. Many turbines use hydraulic systems. These systems are usually spring loaded, so that if hydraulic power fails, the blades automatically furl. Other turbines use an electric servomotor for every rotor blade. They have a small battery-reserve in case of an electric-grid breakdown. Small wind turbines (under 50 kW) with variable-pitching generally use systems operated by centrifugal force, either by flyweights or geometric design, and employ no electric or hydraulic controls.

 

[Zenmervolt]

wind turbines use nothing of the sort to control pitch and in turn speed. both models i have worked on use large electric motors and a computer to change the pitch for optimum efficiency in the current wind conditions. this requires that there be a large electrical connection between the spinning rotor and the generator section, using very large slip rings, and the motor controller was even mounted in the nose cone on one.
current model turbines do not have different gear ratios and will only generate electricity between about 25 and 40mph wind speeds. i am not sure but i believe that the speed is regulated with load on the generators, along with the huge 4 caliper disk breaks. emergency braking is very crude with a 6in dia pin on the end of a ram that rams it into the path of part of the connection between the nose cone and the gear train. also, they use hydraulic and/or electric systems to turn the nacelle into the wind or out of it depending on wind direction/speed.

I was speaking of constant-speed propeller drives (which is why I said "propellers") as seen on airplanes. My point was that there already exist systems to perform the function he mentioned and that these existing systems do so without the need for continuous additional energy input when reduction gearing is used.

ZV