The Egyptians used cone drives to lift water I think. I had optical polishing machines from Strasbaugh made in the 1960’s that ran daily year after year with cones and belt variable speed drive. it’s an old idea. But when they started using metal belts on metal cones and they would be riding up and down the cones constantly I never could understand how that could be reliable long term. I guessthey are reliable now but still don’t get it.
That where the CVT fluid comes into play