Two motors with different speeds and freewheel

[jgrcurtis]

I am trying to solve the age-old problem of torque vs. speed. I have a large go kart that I have a jack shaft on. My thought was to connect one motor with built-in gear reduction to the shaft with a freewheel sprocket on the shaft and a second, faster motor to the shaft as well. When I start moving, the faster motor will be working way harder than it wants to, but the gear reduction motor will get things moving quickly. Then as it gets to the max speed of the gear reduction motor the faster motor will be doing all of the work and the gear reduction motor will be essentially spinning with no load. The freewheel sprocket would keep the faster motor from turning the gear reduction motor at insane speeds.

Does this seem like it would work?

 

[amberwolf]

It should work.

But...wouldn't it be easier to just use one motor and controller that's capable of the power to get it started moving and then be able to go the speeds you're after?

 

[Hillhater]

OR.. you could just us the proven solution as used on low powered , single speed, IC Go karts, which is to use a centrifugal “slipper” clutch, (on the jackshaft )..which is designed to allow the motor to Apply peak power at low axle speeds, before “locking” as the axle speed increases.
OR..there are purpose designed small variable ratio “CVT” transmissions available for Karts also.