Product category:
Gears, brakes, couplings and engines
News Release from: Newage Transmissions | Subject: StepDrive
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 26 August 2004
Marine gearbox set for taxi duties in
Venice
Newage Transmissions' StepDrive two-speed automatic marine gearboxes have been selected for pilot trials on a Venice Water Taxi.
The ability to reduce boat creep speed and minimise damaging wash while manoeuvring in congested or restricted waterways have been key factors leading to the selection of Newage Transmissions' StepDrive two-speed automatic marine gearboxes for pilot trials on a Venice Water Taxi The unit is installed in a 30ft craft powered by a Volvo Penta AD 41 engine and will undergo extensive trials in the city's canal network over coming months
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Jul 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Marine gearbox proves its worth
Preproduction testing of Newage Transmissions' recently announced StepDrive marine gearbox has confirmed the unit's reliability under the most arduous operating conditions.
Gearbox steps up Penta performance
StepDrive is a new two-speed automatic gearbox that dramatically improves the performance of boats equipped with standard Volvo Penta diesel engines.
By providing an additional reduction ratio of around 25%, StepDrive significantly increases propeller efficiencies at low speed.
As a result, fuel economy and boat handling characteristics are significantly improved while emissions and noise are reduced - making the gearboxes an ideal choice for the application.
In parallel, StepDrive's capability to boost boat performance by around 20% will minimise travelling times between stops, as well as significantly reduce journeys from the centre of Venice to the Lagoon or International Airport.
Developed by Newage as a retrofit product for the Volvo Penta Duoprop 290 drive leg, StepDrive is installed entirely within the centre section of the Volvo unit and, when operating in top gear, does not affect the leg's overall reduction ratio.
The gearbox has been designed both for use with turbocharged engines such as Volvo Penta AD31 and 41 series - as well as supercharged units up to the KAD 44.
During acceleration, it automatically changes from low to high gear at a pre-determined engine speed, which is optimised to the individual boat and engine combination.
When the boat slows again, low gear is engaged as the engine speed falls below 1500rev/min.
According to Newage's Marine Sales Manager, Jamie Pratt: "The fact that StepDrive provides extremely smooth engagement of drive, both from rest and between ratios, is a further factor in its selection for this demanding application".
"The gearbox minimises shock loading on the whole driveline and therefore, wear to the drive's cone clutch".
"As a result, the engine operates more smoothly, under less stress and will return improved fuel economy".
"We are delighted to have been selected for these high profile trials and look forward to demonstrating the benefits of StepDrive to further users around the world during the coming months".
• Newage Transmissions: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
