# Calling Engineers (turbo idea)
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [February 9, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168 "2008-02-09T07:59:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/1 "2008-02-09T07:59:07Z")
My idea/theory is based off of freewheel on a bike. On a bike, if the wheels can travel faster then the person pedaling a bike, they will. But when they can’t the person will pedal the bike.
My idea is to modify the turbos center section and place a freewheel there. Now add a belt driven from the motor. The engine will drive the turbo at lower RPM’s till the turbo can spin fast enough to generate boost on its own. Also, once the turbo takes over by itself, the engine won’t be under load because it won’t be driving the turbo.
There may need to be gear ratios to get the engine to drive the turbo allowing the boost in the lower RPM’s.
Is there a downside to my idea? I can’t find one but I’m not an engineer.
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### Author:  [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/2 "2008-02-16T15:57:44Z")
like a clutch unit? similar to the ones on an A/C unit.
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### Author:  [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/3 "2008-02-16T16:00:23Z")
I don’t know how to explain it better then like the freewheel on a bike. Its not something you would turn on and off.
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### Author:  [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/4 "2008-02-16T16:08:40Z")
Mercedes benz already has a clutched supercharger, and many others have done twin charging, your view is neither new nor innovative.
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### Author:  [@BDR5oh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BDR5oh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/5 "2008-02-16T16:10:10Z")
you mean like a clutch … ie: the car in Mad Max … had a roots type twin screw with a clutch on the snout pulley
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### Author:  [@Justin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Justin)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/6 "2008-02-16T16:10:17Z")
> [@MPD47](#):
>
> Mercedes benz already has a clutched supercharger, and many others have done twin charging, your view is neither new nor innovative.
QFT
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### Author:  [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/7 "2008-02-16T16:11:50Z")
> [@articzap"](#):
>
> Is there a downside to my idea? I can’t find one but I’m not an engineer.
yes-
belt driven compressor wheels and exhaust driven compressor wheels are not the same.
turbos spin at 100k rpm, cenfrif. superchargers spin at a MUCH lower speed
also, the massive extra weight of parts needed on the shaft in the turbo, and the fact that the center section gets hot enough to coke the oil, so a belt definantly wont live in there
plus your realy going to limit turbo placement
and the sideload of the belt will require different (larger and heavier) bearings because the shaft will no longer float-to-center on the tiny bearings turbos have
your basily trying to twincharge an engine, but your combining 2 types of forced induction that cant be combined
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### Author:  [@BDR5oh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BDR5oh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/8 "2008-02-16T16:12:52Z")
somebody get the pic of the car in Mad Max
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### Author:  [@Violator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Violator)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/9 "2008-02-16T16:23:25Z")
Hotrodkid covered the bases.
The turbine impeller needs to be strong and LIGHT.
adding mass adds inertia which SIGNIFICANTLY slows down response.
You need to study turbochargers and the conditions under which they operate before thinking of redesigns. Its cool that you are thinking and you should continue to do so.
Look at the Toyota Supra SEQUENTIAL TWIN TURBO system
It does what you want in a more practical fashion
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### Author:  [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/10 "2008-02-16T16:24:11Z")
> [@BDR5oh](#):
>
> somebody get the pic of the car in Mad Max
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### Author:  [@BDR5oh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BDR5oh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/11 "2008-02-16T16:28:01Z")
Thanx Nick …
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### Author:  [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/12 "2008-02-17T07:17:44Z")
HotRodKid was the only one to really reply to what I was thinking.
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### Author:  [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/13 "2008-02-17T07:24:10Z")
> [@articzap](#):
>
> HotRodKid was the only one to really reply to what I was thinking.
you would NEED a clutch system on the center section like the rest of us said to make this happen, and would not be cost effective as a single unit.
too complicated, and with too many parts leaves you with a lot of possibilities for failure.
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### Author:  [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 7:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/14 "2008-02-17T07:30:28Z")
Why a clutch instead of a simplified design like a freewheel.
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### Author:  [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/15 "2008-02-17T07:49:37Z")
> [@articzap](#):
>
> Why a clutch instead of a simplified design like a freewheel.
how do you plan to engage and disengage this flywheel?
there is a reason MB uses the electro magnetic clutch on there sc.
the other issue is lube and cooling the cartridge.
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### Author:  [@articzap](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/articzap)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/16 "2008-02-17T07:53:21Z")
Do you know how a freewheel works on a bike? You said flywheel. I don’t know if you’re mis reading what I’m writing or just confused.
> **[Freewheel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel)**
>
> In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. An overdrive is sometimes mistakenly called a freewheel, but is otherwise unrelated.
> The condition of a driven shaft spinning faster than its driveshaft exists in most bicycles when the rider holds his or her feet still, no longer pushing the pedals. In a fixed-gear bicycle, without ...
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/17 "2008-02-17T08:02:23Z")
there have been several attempts at coming up with a reliable super-turbo/turbo-super system by a few different companies, and iirc there have actually been a few working models, but it never seems to have caught on. I’m assuming there are problems that havent been figured out yet
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### Author:  [@Zer0DazE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zer0DazE)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/18 "2008-02-17T08:22:44Z")
> [@articzap](#):
>
> Do you know how a freewheel works on a bike? You said flywheel. I don’t know if you’re mis reading what I’m writing or just confused.
>
> [Freewheel - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel)
yes, i understand it. i just miss typed it while i was do 3 other things at the same time.
do you have any idea how fast a turbocharger is spinning? this is not going to work. i cant see it flying apart the first time the “freewheel” engages and throws off the balance.
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### Author:  [@VANDIT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/VANDIT)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/19 "2008-02-17T08:28:36Z")
cool idea, but variable vanos turbos are more efficant in terms of moving parts, cost, realiabiltiy, and size constraints (not to mention they complete the same objective as your idea)…
keep thinking, dont get discouraged… and when you have a great idea, that you think is origional, invest! :tup:
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### Author:  [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-engineers-turbo-idea/43168/20 "2008-02-17T08:31:16Z")
This idea actually has been thought of before. 😉
It’s not a bad idea by any means just he way you are going about it is the typical.
Depending on the design of the center sections clutch system it would NOT hinder performance the way you are all thinking.
It’s been calculated out. the key is the type of clutch unit
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