Development of Zero-Spin Planetary Traction Drive Transmission: Part 2 — Performance Testing and Evaluation

A tapered roller planetary traction drive based on a so-called zero-spin design was built for performance evaluation. The traction drive demonstrated, in many aspects, superb performance characteristics. The zero-spin design increased the torque capacity and enabled the traction drive to operate under both fully lubricated and starved lubrication conditions. The traction drive improved mechanical efficiency compared with traction drives of conventional designs and was able to achieve high efficiency up to 99 percent. The traction drive had satisfactory temperature performance.