Top 10 Products 2000
AEI editors have reviewed the readers' responses to the product announcements appearing over a 12-month period and, based upon that feedback, have selected the top products.
CVT for cars, trucks
Ifield Technology's continuously variable transmission system is suitable for automobiles, trucks, and buses. The system's operation is smooth, offering infinitely variable ratios and maximizing engine efficiency. It has a practical gear ratio range of 20:1 to 0.3:1. The CVT has shown fuel consumption improvements of 40% at a steady 56 km/h (35 mph) and 10% highway driving.
Ceramic discs
Carbon/carbon composites have been used as brake disc material for racing applications. New processes and variations of the formulations of composite materials are used by Brembo S.p.A. for passenger-car applications. A reduced process time compared to the carbon/carbon production gives cost advantages and potential for industrial volume production. The modification of the matrix with ceramic additives leads to higher hardness with very low wear. Friction performance is guaranteed under all conditions. Offers weight savings due to a low specific weight of 2.2-2.4 g/cm3 (1.2-1.3 oz/in3).
GDI supply pump
A gasoline direct injection (GDI) supply pump from Stanadyne Automotive Corp. is for use in GDI common rail systems in passenger cars. The pump design is lightweight and compact to fit neatly on various engine configurations. It is self-lubricated and contains an internal pressure limiter. Various customer-specific types of mounting and pump-drive configurations, with flexible locations for pump inlet and output positioning, are possible.
Common-rail injection system
The high-pressure Common Rail fuel injection system from Bosch appears in the European launch of the first V8 direct-injection diesel engine featured on the BMW 740d. The eight-cylinder engine, with its output of 180 kW (241 hp) and torque of 560 N*m (376 lb*ft), maintains low consumption and emission values. The Common Rail system, which separates the generation of pressure and injection, uses a high-pressure pump driven directly by the vehicle's engine to generate injection pressure of 135 MPa (19,500 psi) in the storage line; injectors with fast-switching solenoid valves then inject the fuel directly into the eight combustion chambers.
Torque transfer
Unlike traditional limited-slip differentials, Dana Corp.'s Hydra-Lok offers controlled torque transfer for improved traction in all driving conditions. Instead of wasting power on wheelspin, Hydra-Lok transfers torque to the non-spinning wheel with traction. It is also tunable, maximizing specific vehicle operation. This differential can be customized to operate above a predetermined rpm according to vehicle weight, wheelbase, and design parameters. The product can be installed in front and/or rear axles.
Ignition system
Adrenaline Research, Inc. has developed SmartFire Plasma Ignition to manage each cylinder's air/fuel ratio, producing the maximum torque at the lowest possible emissions and fuel consumption. The system helps to maintain the proper mixture in each cylinder, improving catalytic converter efficiency and reducing wear. EPA-certified results have shown the viability of the system, which demonstrated a 51% reduction in carbon monoxide emissions and an 11% reduction in unburned hydrocarbons.
Four-wheel steering
Delphi Automotive Systems' Quadrasteer four-wheel steering system combines conventional front-wheel steering with an electrically powered rear-wheel steering system. Designed specifically for full-size trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), Quadrasteer electronically controls the direction of the rear wheels, helps to shorten the vehicle's turning radius at low speeds, and provides a significant increase in vehicle stability at high speeds.
Gears
Matthias Oechsler & Son's WAVE DRIVE gear solution makes it possible to achieve reduction ratios of 1:30 up to 1:4800 in an extremely compact unit with only four moving parts: wave generator, pulsator wheel, flexband, and output wheel. The product is suited for small actuators or drives in the automotive industry such as chassis, drivetrain, or engine applications. Further advantages of the principle include almost backlash-free operation and high transmissible torques.
Air-actuated disc brake
Haldex Brake Systems' air-actuated disc brake provides reduced unsprung weight and better stopping power than drum brakes. The brake features a front-load design that eliminates a bolted-on rear plate and fasteners. Quadruple slide pins reduce brake drag and improve the durability of the components.
Transmission
The global ZF Group, an automotive systems supplier of drivetrain technology, steering, and chassis components, is presenting the world's first six-speed automatic car transmission. This transmission is the cornerstone of a new range to replace today's five-speed generation of ZF's Car Transmission Div. The 6 HP 26 transmission is designed for standard-driven large passenger cars and light trucks and is capable of handling up to 602 N*m (444 lb*ft) of torque. At the same time, it is smaller and lighter (13%) than the five-speed, with a simpler design. The result is improved efficiency, more ratios, and a better performance-weight ratio. Another feature of the unit is a mechatronic control module - a hydraulic shift unit combined with an integrated electronics module. The transmission will enter production in 2002.
