Infinitely Variable Transmission

Parker Hybrid offers an infinitely variable transmission for medium-duty trucks.

The Hybrid Drive Systems Division of Parker Hannifin says its Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) with brake-energy-recovery technology for class 4 to 6 trucks is now available in North America.

The Parker IVT uses energy stored in a hydraulic high-pressure accumulator to propel the vehicle “seamlessly”. Continued stop-and-go operation recharges the hydraulic system and allows the truck to achieve a significant fuel-economy improvement over traditional diesel-powered vehicles that use automatic transmissions, says Parker, while also reducing emissions.

Results seen with early adopters of the technology show a fuel-economy improvement up to 50% over a seven-month period, says Parker.

The company sees its market as trucks in the snack food, beverage, and parcel-delivery vocations as well as the work truck segment in general.

Over and above its efficient dual-mode operating system — using both the engine and hydraulic energy in series — the Parker IVT is said to offer three primary advantages: the first is brake-energy recovery. The hydraulic system captures and returns approximately 71% of the vehicleís kinetic energy for use in propulsion.

Then there’s optimized engine control, which decouples the engine from the drive wheels, allowing it to operate at higher efficiencies for a given power level.

And the third feature is its engine-off system that uses stored hydraulic power to operate the vehicle at low speeds while keeping the engine off to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The engine is also shut down during deceleration events to reduce idling time.

The Parker IVT with brake-energy recovery also starts the engine, reducing wear on the 12-volt starter. The system powers the truckís steering components as well, thus eliminating the need for the engine to support these functions. A mechanical connection from the engine to the rear axle allows for power transfer during highway-speed operation. The brake energy recovery feature reduces brake wear and increases brake life compared to a conventional chassis.

http://parkerhybrid.parker.com


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