http://autoturism.rdslink.ro/gbist.htm
"George Constantinescu created a new branch of science within
continuous medium mechanics, concerning vibration transmission of
power: Sonics. One of his outstanding inventions is the Mechanical
couple converter, which can automatically transmit the power from
an engine or other power generator, to a driven (secondary) shaft.
Its use includes tool-machines, locomotives, cars and so on. Using
the couple converter transmission system simplifies the
traditional mechanism of transmission to driving forecarriages
made up by clutch, gearbox, longitudinal transmission (cardan
axle), differential and planet shaft cone group. The couple
converter secures a progressive coupling and a continuous and
automatic accommodation of car movement to the changing resistance
to advance."
"In 1936, Petre Cristea together with Gogu Constantinescu and
Ionel Zamfirescu won the Monte Carlo Rally on a Ford modified by
the three, succeeding the first victory of Ford in this famous
rally."
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/09/02/what-will-your-next-car-look-like/
Modern Mechanix ( Feb, 1931)
What Will Your Next Car Look Like?
"...It is the nearest approach on the market today to the dream of
a gear-shiftless car with an infinite range of speeds, virtually a
speed for every added revolution of the engine. Several years ago
a Greek engineer in London named Constantinesco developed a torque
converter which eliminated gear shifting, and it was tried with
some success, but has not as yet proven practical in volume
production.
The theory of the Constantinesco device requires higher
mathematics and considerable knowledge of physics to explain or
understand, but in operation it allows the engine to idle without
transmitting motion to the wheels. When the accelerator is
depressed and the engine speeds up the torque converter changes
its motion and begins to impart rotary motion to the shaft, the
speed of the motion depending on the engine speed and the
resistance of the car. In other words, starting from a dead stop,
the device imparts the engine revolutions to the transmission in
the form of few revolutions at high power, and as the car gets
under way and resistance decreases the converter changes its
movement and transmits more revolutions at less power. It
automatically adjusts its speed to the power required to overcome
resistance."
