Big boost, no waiting! Antonov debuts two-speed supercharger
Racers and backyard mechanics alike have been searching for years for a forced-induction system that generates boost from idle to redline for years. Pricy sequential turbo systems and their ilk have done the job to this point, but Atonov is proposing an altogether different system: a two-speed supercharger!
The system basically matches a bog-standard, high-capacity centrifugal supercharger unit with a diminutive automatic gearbox. The result is a claimed 85 percent efficiency, versus perhaps 50 percent of a traditional unit.
Of course, innovation usually has a price, and according to FastCar UK, that price figures to be between £3,000 and £4,000 (that's around $5,500-$7,400 clams, Yankee).
[Source: FastCar UK]
(Great tip, Chuck!)
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Karesh 5:33PM (5/05/2006)
There's got to be a much cheaper, simpler way to do this. Maybe something like the pulleys in a CVT?
Reply
gbh 8:20PM (5/05/2006)
Mike, it was done with a belt in the 50's.
Available option on the Ford Thunderbird.
Not a creative breakthrough, but like many things that were done before, they do work much better with modern metallurgy and machining accuracy.
Salvage a CVT out of a Subaru Justy and roll your own.
Reply
WAKE UP 9:09PM (5/05/2006)
"Racers and backyard mechanics alike have been searching for years for a forced-induction system that generates boost from idle to redline for years. "
Somebody wake up the editor.
for years
for years
for years
for years
Reply
Todd 11:16PM (5/05/2006)
GBH is right,
The McCulloch VS57 supercharger was a popular performance upgrade in the 50's, not only were they offered factory on the Ford F-code 312 Y-block, they were also offered on Studebaker,Kaisers and Packards. Not to mention that they pretty much had a kit for every engine you could think off. McCulloch even had an MGTD. If you want more info on the thing and where I got most of my info: http://www.vs57.com/index.htm
Reply
gbh 11:51PM (5/05/2006)
Thanks for the link, Todd.
Reply
Corey W. 9:48AM (5/06/2006)
"...have been searching for years for a forced-induction system that generates boost from idle to redline for years."
Guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a supercharger do this, at the cost of runnning off the engine.
Reply
MikeW 2:20PM (5/06/2006)
The inertial supercharger has always been penned as the worst of both worlds.
It has the latency of a turbocharger, and the drag of a supercharger.
See latest MotorTrend comparo, Livernois Mustang very top end oriented power, being able to run the supercharger faster at lower speeds would make it more tractable.
Didn't some WW2 airplanes have a planetary gear at the drive of their superchargers so that normal flying the supercharger ran slower (for better consumption) and for combat faster (direct drive of planetary) for more boost, hence 'combat boost' setting.
The VW touareg V10tdi has a two speed alternator.
Reply
Robert Miles 10:56PM (5/06/2006)
The 57 Golden Hawk and all 57 Packards were supercharged with a variable speed pulley that allow for boost to be regulated as the engine performed. The drawback in those days was the Studebaker V8 with a supercharger ran a 7.5 compression ratio which did not help low end take off. The engine started to feel strong around 3,000 rpm up to 4,500 rpm then valve float would occur. The later cars (63-64) used a fixed pulley with higher compression and stronger valve springs. Ted Harbit and George Krem have two late model Studebakers that run circles around other cars sporting more cubic inches in the pure stock drags
Reply
Ron 2:53PM (5/20/2006)
Antonov Unveils First Two Speed Supercharger
Text & Photos courtesy Antonov plc
05-05-2006
Worlds first enters series production
The world?s first two speed supercharger drive system to enter series production will be demonstrated by Antonov, the automotive technology company, at the Engine Expo exhibition at Stuttgart in Germany next week. The following week, the racing driver Peter Kox will demonstrate the technology at the Zandvoort race circuit in the Netherlands.
And see the results:
http://www.antonov-clubsite.nl/000000962f000d411/00000097c90900001/index.html
Antonov has given on the 16th and 17th may 2006 a demonstration with a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet 1.8 ltr. Both cars where build with a combined Rotrex/Antonov AMM 2-speed step up supercharger.
On the URL above all moevies who are made at race circuit Zandvoort (The Netherlands) concerning the driving performance off both cars.
Or:
http://www.antonov-clubsite.nl
Then folder ?foto & film Galerie?
Then folder ?AVA 2006?
===================================================================
http://www.antonov-clubsite.nl/000000962f000d411/00000097c90900001/index.html
Reply