Drums 6 and 4, mounted freely on the ends of driving shaft 1 and driven shaft 8, are rotated in opposite directions (drum 6 clockwise and drum 4 counterclockwise when looking from the right) by a separate drive (not shown). Cross-pieces 2 and 7 are rigidly attached to the ends of shafts 1 and 8. The cross-pieces are connected together by flexible bands 5 and 3 which are wound as shown around rotating drums 6 and 4. If shaft 1 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow (counterclockwise when looking from the right), band 3 is coiled tight on drum 4, and band 5 is loosened on drum 6. The friction force developed between band 3 and drum 4 (being considerably greater than the force exerted by cross-piece 2 on band 3) drives cross-piece 7 and shaft 8 in the same direction as shaft 1, but with a much greater torque. If shaft 1 rotates in the opposite direction, band 5 is tightened on drum 6 and band 3 is loosened on drum 4, so that drum 6 amplifies the torque transmitted to shaft 8. Owing to the clearance between one of the bands and its drum, shaft 8 is reversed with a certain lag after the reversal of shaft 1. The resulting idle rotation can be compensated by a special mechanism.
$1897$FL,ML$