Product category:
Gears, brakes, couplings and engines
News Release from: Zeroshift | Subject: Zeroshift transmission
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 April 2008
Transmission smoothes gear changes
In a typical mixed drive cycle, Zeroshift technology can generate a fuel economy saving of at least 2% compared with a manual transmission and 7% compared with a six-speed planetary automatic.
New damping systems are amongst the latest developments being introduced by Zeroshift to enhance its compact, highly efficient automatic transmission Zeroshift technology provides a compact, low-cost, fully automatic transmission that changes ratio with zero torque interruption, providing improved performance and passenger comfort
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 18 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The company estimates that, in a typical mixed drive cycle, the system should also generate a fuel economy saving of at least 2% compared with a manual transmission and 7% compared with a six-speed planetary automatic.
The Zeroshift transmission is cheaper to manufacture than a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) or a sophisticated planetary automatic and the shift mechanism can be built into an existing manual gearbox so it can be assembled on the related manual transmission production lines.
Managing Director Bill Martin said"For an established manufacturer of manual gearboxes, it is an extremely affordable way to offer a high-quality, fully automatic transmission".
Applications include passenger cars, commercial vehicles, off-highway vehicles and motorcycles.
A Zeroshift transmission uses mainly technologies proven in established volume applications, supplemented by Zeroshift components.
The synchromesh elements found in a conventional gearbox are replaced by pairs of interlocking rings, each incorporating three specially contoured drive elements that engage and disengage the drive gears in a similar manner to dog clutches.
When shifting from neutral, ring one is engaged to take up drive while ring two is engaged within a few degrees of revolution to take up backlash.
The next shift is made with ring two, taking up the drive and ring one taking up the backlash.
As ring two is unloaded during the change, it requires less than one twentieth the axial force required by a conventional synchromesh.
During shifting, pressure on the clutch plate is automatically eased to allow smooth take-up of drive without interrupting torque.
The control system, also developed and calibrated by Zeroshift, co-ordinates gearshift actuation, engine management and clutch operation to provide full control over the driveline during gear shifting.
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