Fuel savings and shift improvements promised by Oerlikon Graziano 03 July 2012
Oerlikon Graziano has developed a family of synchronisers for heavy duty truck transmissions that is said to set new standards for fuel efficiency and ease of shifting.
According to the company, the first application, on new nine-speed and 14-speed premium gearboxes, has contributed to transmission efficiency improvement, helping to fuel saving and emission reduction.
Already a leading supplier to the agricultural and construction industries, Oerlikon Graziano now expects its high-efficiency synchronisers to generate significant new business in the heavy truck market.
It explains that the equipment saves fuel in two ways: by optimising the shift to minimise torque interruption, and by reducing steady-state drag torque in the transmission.
There is also a new internal activation system, while clearances and lubricant paths have also been re-optimised for higher efficiency, explains Andrea Serra, product manager, synchroniser and powershift design, at Oerlikon Graziano.
"Most new transmissions carry over existing synchroniser designs, which limit the scope for efficiency improvements," says Serra.
"Our new technology offers a step-change improvement in fuel efficiency for the next generation of heavy duty transmissions," he adds.
Configured in single and double cone arrangements, each synchroniser has the same external geometry, for flexibility in transmission design.
In all, four synchroniser specifications are used on the 14-speed transmission, and three on the nine-speed. They have a high torque capacity – up to 18,000Nm in the first applications – and use molybdenum coated steel cones for high durability with optimum friction.
Future developments, says the company, include the potential for carbon coating.
Author
John Challen
Related Companies
Oerlikon Graziano SpA
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