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Automatic refinement
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, refinement, and passenger comfort. The company estimates that, in a typical mixed drive cycle, the system should also generate a fuel economy saving of at least two percent compared with a manual transmission and seven percent compared with a six speed planetary automatic.
The award-winning Zeroshift transmission is cheaper to manufacture than a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) or a sophisticated planetary automatic; the shift mechanism can be built into an existing manual gearbox so it can be assembled on the related manual transmission production lines.
“The cleverness of the Zeroshift transmission is in the design innovation and the control systems,” explained managing director Bill Martin. “For an established manufacturer of manual gearboxes, it is an extremely affordable way to offer a high-quality, fully automatic transmission.”
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"Zeroshift provides the best features of each automatic transmission type" |
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Bill Martin, Zerospace managing director |
A Zeroshift transmission uses mainly technologies proven in established volume applications, supplemented by innovative 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 of the axial force required by a conventional synchromesh.
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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, coordinates gearshift actuation, engine management and clutch operation to provide full control over the driveline during gear shifting.
A new version of the control system was announced at the 2008 SAE World Congress.Other new features previewed at the World Congress include an oil damping system embedded in the drive gears to increase refinement during gear changes and a new hydraulic actuation system.
“We believe that Zeroshift technology provides the best features of each automatic transmission type – the shift quality of a planetary automatic, the vehicle performance and tuneability of a DCT, and the cost and packaging of the best AMTs,” concluded Martin. “One of the biggest benefits, though, has to be the cost-effective improvements in fuel economy and consequently CO2 emissions. It’s a significant step forward that helps to provide a solution for one of the biggest challenges facing today’s automotive industry.”