The off-highway sector has a great diversity of transmission types, from manuals through to the most sophisticated hydrostatic powersplit transmissions and hybrid powertrains.
DSD’s applications knowledge spans agriculture, construction and industrial vehicles, having worked on projects ranging from the most significant mining trucks to ride-on garden machinery.
Our core design and development skills include a detailed knowledge of transmissions and axles across the entire off-highway sector.
Whether manual, automatic, power-split (IVT), CVT, AMT or DCT, DSD’s expertise extends to all types of transmission and driveline systems and includes axles, differentials, PTOs and transfer cases. The company understands these diverse types’ attributes and knows where and how to apply them to optimise performance and efficiency.
DSD’s experience of a control system implementation for off-highway applications includes the many specialised requirements of the industry, such as the control of shuttling or adaptive shift strategies not encountered in other sectors. In addition, our control system integration skills are applied to complex systems that incorporate ground drives, implement systems, and power take-offs.
Off-highway vehicles offer the best potential for energy recovery and re-use through hybridisation with their repetitive duty cycles. However, the design and cost-effective realisation of such systems are still in their infancy. Still, DSD has hands-on knowledge of the varied elements and can help develop practical vehicles that can save fuel and improve output.
DSD has experience producing a complete all-new, production-intent, off-highway transmission design for major manufacturers, many of which are in production. In addition, the company’s expertise spans from low volume (100 per annum) to high volume (60,000 per annum), so it understands the challenges and differences involved with engineering such a product.
DSD engineered, tested and developed an all-new transmission for an internationally renowned manufacturer of off-highway vehicles.
Placing the contract for this new generation transmission with DSD represented a significant vote of confidence in the company’s capabilities, as it will be used in a range of future vehicles for many years to come.
In a cycle of continuous product improvement, our customer identified the need for a smaller, lighter, more efficient and more cost-effective transmission that would suit a range of vehicles over the next 15 years.
DSD initially undertook specific problem-solving activities on the project, but as the client faced an internal resource bottleneck, the complete program was outsourced. We produced the concept design from scratch to meet the client’s specifications, then developed the detailed plan to the level of production intent. Next, DSD engineered the hydraulic clutch actuation system, using proprietary electro-hydraulic control valves, defining hydraulic pump, clutch feed porting, distribution and lubrication system and galleries. Finally, we procured the hardware and assembled the prototypes.
Because the transmission applies to several vehicles, the total annual volume will run to tens of thousands of units.
For more projects and information about our Off-HIghway expertise, contact us today.