-pondering recent posts about PSRU types i wondered if there has ever been
built a belt drive such that a small gear belt drives a larger gear and then
from that secondary shaft a smaller gear again belt drives a larger gear
located in-line with the very first one, thus keeping the prop in line with
the driving shaft.  this would eliminate the offset prop problem on many
aircraft.  the step-down gearing could take place in two steps, rather than
one like the typical belt drive.  the last gear would have to spin on the
first gear's shaft, but everything rotates the same direction, so the
surface speed isn't increased as much as the overall reduction ratio.  the
belts would absorb power pulses well.  no lubricant would be needed.(right?)
i would think it would be straight forward to build.  perhaps the diameter
of the belt gears would need to be too big in order to have enough teeth or
area in constant contact?  i'm sure this idea isn't new (probably first
tried in 1908 or something!)   kevin

  Yes I built and flew one for a couple hundred hours but it was
very heavy, I don't have any photos of it and it has been pared out
for other projects.
Ken Welter

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