Dual speed alternator prototype

["Walter" <Whalt@xxxx>]

I've installed one of those 140amp John Hervy 'signature series' alternators
in my Delorean, and it works great. But any alternator cannot perform at
it's peak at low RPMs. That's why I'm thinking up a way to make a two speed
transmission for use on any Delorean alternator.

The traditional fix to boost low RPM output is to put a smaller pulley on
the alternator so it will spin faster. But there is a limit to this since
the poor alternator could be spinning so fast at high RPMs that it could fly
apart!

My transmission design would involve building a 'gear box' that would be
mounted below the alternator. The belt that drives the alternator would
then be moved to this gear box, and a second belt would connect the gear box
back to the alternator.

The input and output pulleys on this gear box would be mounted to shafts
which would have two rubber wheels per shaft mounted like dually tires.
Then there would be two sliding rubber wheels which would side independently
of each other via solenoids. At low engine RPMs, one wheel would engage.
At higher engine RPMs, the other wheel would engage. These 'engaging'
wheels would mechanically couple to the input and output shaft assemblies.
The 'dually tires' would be different size diameters to give the different
alternator speeds.

I know this sounds like a Rube Goldberg contraption. But can any of you
follow this? Maybe I'll build one of these in a few years after I have more
of my other projects finished. Eventually my driveway will have a gate that
opens like the iris on Stargate SG-1. It will be made of stainless steel,
of course. Cool, eh?

Does anyone have any ideas or comments?

Walt Tampa, FL