>searched "right angle drive"
A search sounded like a great idea.
Results: In addition to geared drives, there's the noiseless Almond
Right Angle Drive (evidently high 90's % efficient but looks bulky),
which led me to youtube where I found 2 models of 'Almond', a Meccano
set right angle drive, and a MAC gearless angle drive (for socket
wrench sets).
The Meccano and the Mac were more or less the same idea. The MAC
seemed interesting, being that it's made for socket sets. It might
even be available.
However, I'm still thinking the U-joints look like the best bet. The
socket wrench ones aren't ideal and may prove inadequate for long
term running, and it may want more than two... but in principle it
seems like a good system.
>not tryin to be negative, just relating some personal experience
>with mechanical stuff.
Thanks! I think I'll steer clear of the CV joints.
-----
I must remark that I hear all the time "if that could be done/if it
was practical, someone would have done it." I find it's true much
less often than you'd think.
For example, I just realized last month that you can use a simple 3
element planetary gear as a compact, infinitely variable torque
converter to replace an entire automotive transmission. (My "Electric
Hubcap" motor was named for where I want them to mount, not just for
its pancake shape.) Just let the ring gear slip backwards at a
controlled rate and you increase the reduction ratio between the sun
gear and the planets assembly. You can have 1000 to 1 if it's needed.
(Somewhat unintuitively, no energy is lost except frictional losses.
The slip control is of course an important design detail. It can be
controlled by a mechanical brake/clutch, possibly a magnetic brake,
or with a motor/generator.)
It took me 3 years to come up with that... and planetary gears have
been around for maybe a century. If anyone else ever figured it out
previously, they didn't tell anybody. There've been lots of people
trying hard for a long time to come up with a good CVT or torque
converter, and there are a number of strange, complex and inefficient
designs out there.
Craig
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