Eaton clutch technology to be shown at Hannover01 August 2012

Eaton will feature its latest clutch technology for heavy-duty applications at this year's IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany from September 20-27.

Eaton's patented, cushioned ceramic clutch discs for manual transmissions use a ceramic facing, instead of traditional organic materials, making them more heat- and wear-resistant than conventional clutches, according to the firm's trials.

Shifting gears in commercial vehicles that are fully loaded or operating on steep hills or other demanding driving conditions can generate extremely high temperatures in the coupling housing.

The Eaton design is said to enhance friction coefficient, particularly at high temperatures, helping to enable easier shifting while allowing drivers to keep better control of their vehicles.

Eaton refers to its ceramic material design as 'severe duty' (SD), as it is designed for tough applications. Indeed, the SD-design meets the needs of commercial vehicles with frequent stop-and-go driving cycles under high loads – common in waste disposal, mining, construction and forestry applications.

The firm also claims that its SD clutches provide for increased durability, and offers its technology for clutch discs with 395mm and 430mm diameters, as well for other European and American designs.

"It is critical for Eaton to support vehicle manufacturers with the technologies that they most need," explains John Beering, vice president and general manager global vehicle group aftermarket and clutch business.

"Our SD-design improves the safety of commercial vehicles and simultaneously reduces operating costs for fleets and owner-operators. We therefore see a great growth potential worldwide for this technology."

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Eaton Corporation

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