• Mechanics® Synergy driveshafts

Designed for a broad range of uses and operations in construction, mining, defence and other Off-Highway markets, Mechanics® Synergy is an evolution of existing Walterscheid Powertrain Group product innovations with new features and benefits to offer significant advantages to customers.

The range was developed by linking existing, proven Walterscheid Powertrain Group off-highway technologies, from its market-leading Mechanics® Series U-Joints range, with inverted slip and shaft design expertise. Available in sizes 3C-10C, the product range offers significant advantages and reduces the need for servicing and maintenance and maximises uptime and productivity.

Design characteristics of the Mechanics®Synergy series lead to various benefits: The market leading slip section sealing ensures superior product life even in the harshest of off-highway environments. The unique design geometry allows for weight saving, thereby improving vehicle fuel efficiency, and has excellent low wear characteristics to ensure maximum operator comfort throughout the product lifespan. Operators and owners also benefit from the entirely service-free design, saving time and money by not needing to ever grease any shaft components.

Vehicle manufacturers also benefit from the years of product development and selection experience in the Mechanics® product range. This includes knowing that the grease used in the product, which is so critical for life, has been carefully selected for the requirements of off-highway vehicles, and is proven in laboratory and field testing.

• More torque, same space: New B3000 Double Universal Joints

The Double Universal Joint (DUJ) B3000 series from Walterscheid Powertrain Group allows the transmission of significantly more torque – up to 20 percent – without increasing space requirements. Transmitting higher torque in the same space as the previous B300 series can result in substantial weight savings when new B3000 series DUJs are integrated into an axle, as the axle structure can be smaller and lighter than previously required for the given torque.

Reducing the structural weight makes vehicles more responsive to the operator’s inputs for acceleration and deceleration. Whilst vehicle manufacturers aim at increasing the available torque, there are limitations when more torque requires larger and heavier components. This can result in weight increases of both the DUJ and the axle. As the torque capacity of the DUJ B3000 series was increased within the same space requirements, however, there is no need for a larger axle, thus avoiding additional weight and cost.

The increased performance at the same weight offers interesting opportunities to vehicle manufacturers who continuously try to reduce the structural weight of their vehicles. Less weight allows for improved fuel efficiency, thereby reducing the cost of operation. At the same time, reduced emissions improve the environmental performance of the vehicles.

Following Walterscheid Powertrain Group’s strategic commitment to “Differentiation Through Technology” and a multi-year development process, the new DUJ B3000 series will now be presented at bauma 2019. The increased performance was achieved through a combination of material selection and optimisation of component geometry, and was supported by extensive laboratory and field testing. The first size, B3310, is now in production for the launch customer’s pre-series production model, with the B3320 in an advanced state of development.