MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HERITAGE NO.104
Continuously Variable Transmission/Ring-Cone Type
The ring cone (RC) continuously variable transmission (CVT), which was a type of mechanical CVT, was invented in 1952 by Manabu Kashiwabara of Shimpo Industrial Co. (currently Nidec-Shimpo Co.). This transmission transmits power without contact through a lubricating oil film and does not cause wear. Its unique features are that it has a very small number of parts, and that it is small and inexpensive. It is widely used in devices like belt conveyors and machine tools because it does not slip, owing to its automatic pressure-regulating mechanism and also its very low rotation fluctuation rate.
This RC-0.5 type (transmission power: 0.5 horsepower and transmission gear ratio: 2.0 to 0.5), manufactured in 1952, was used as a CVT for the glass bottle printing mechanism at what was then Yamamura Glass Co.
On exhibition (reservation required)
Nidec-Shimpo Corporation. Main Building 1F Showroom
[Currently closed due to relocation]
- Hours open:
- 10:00-16:00
- Admission fee:
- Free
- Days closed:
- Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, year-end and New Year holidays, Obon etc.
- Address:
- No. 1 Kamiterada, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto 617-0833
- Tel:
- 075-958-3613
- URL:
- http://www.nidec-shimpo.co.jp/en/
- Access:
- 15 minutes walk from JR Nagaokakyo Station