Due friction and other losses, the machine as proposed will require a turbocharged large PISTON displacement V-8 just to turn over.  Either that or perpetual
motion will be achieved.  Nutty, very nutty. DS

There is no friction. We are using anti friction bearings :) I figure
90% efficiency for the gear box and belt drive.

The CVT in a car gives 20% more MPG than a conventional auto transmission. They 
could not be all that inefficient.

The approach is to use hard steel on hard steel. Here are my back of the envelope 
calculations. 17 foot pounds max input.  17 foot pounds = 204 inch pounds.... 66 pounds 
shear for one wheel at the 3 inch radius. 132 pounds for one wheel at 1.5 
inch radius. 265 pounds shear for one wheel on a .75 radius.  Numbers are
half this for two wheels.

Coef. of friction for hard steel on hard steel = .78 (Marks SHFME) 

That implies 338 pounds clamping force needed for one wheel. 265/.78. 

At 90 PSI engine oil pressure... 5.5 inch dia. piston with 23 square 
inches gives  2000 pounds maximum clamping force available. Less when
not needed as engine RPM and HP goes down.... so too the oil pressure. 
It will work! The gear box case will be robust. 

Paul Lamar
 
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