New Off-Road Travel Drive is 70% Lighter, 20% More Efficient | Construction News

Transmission specialist Oerlikon Fairfield co-presented
details of an innovative electric drive system for off-highway vehicles at the recent VDI International Congress in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Integrating an Oerlikon Fairfield planetary drive with an interior permanent magnet motor produced by Ashwoods Electrical Motors, the ultra-compact drive solution is up to 70% smaller and lighter and 20% more efficient than traditional motors used in off-highway traction applications.

“The improved efficiency, small package size, and competitive cost of this integrated solution sets a new benchmark for electric drives in the off-highway sector,” explained Gunnar Stein, chief technical officer of Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment. “The unit is so compact that it enables vehicle manufacturers to provide a steerable four-wheel-drive configuration where previously there was not enough space to offer this possibility.”

The complete unit can deliver 2,950 lb.-ft. (4000Nm) of drive torque and 4,130 lb.-ft. (5600Nm) of braking torque, yet the motor is up to 70% smaller and lighter than current production solutions that use larger, less-efficient brushed DC or induction motors coupled to a planetary gearbox.

The Oerlikon Fairfield/Ashwoods Electric Motors solution provides a triple planetary ratio in the length of the standard double planetary design.

Combining the two technologies with an integrated Ultra electric parking brake eliminates several redundant components. For example, the motor, brake, and transmission use a common shaft. The approach saves weight, cost, and space.

The Oerlikon Fairfield Torque-Hub planetary drive is already well-proven and widely used in off-highway vehicles and is available in single planetary, double planetary, triple planetary and differential planetary gearing configurations to meet the individual torque and operating speed requirements of
different applications.

Dynamometer testing of the new drive system has been completed and durability tests are in progress. In-vehicle testing began at the end of June 2016.

Categories:
Catalyst

Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.