GATE (Gearshift Attribute Test Equipment) is the industry leading gear shift test system, allowing development engineers to accurately assess gear shift quality and gather data for improvements. GATE was created by the DSD team after feeling the need for a system that places much greater focus on the needs of the development engineer.
GATE measures handball force and position and derives a number of metrics that provide quantifiable data to measure shift quality, which is otherwise a notoriously subjective characteristic, yet a crucial one for the judgement of vehicle quality.
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Every transmission, transfer box and axle assembly requires a breather system for reliable operation but breather system validation has always meant a labour-intensive and time-consuming test program because of the large number of temperature, speed and operating angles to be studied.
DSD’s innovation VENTS can cut the test time required by up to 60% while ensuring that the conditions leading to any oil expulsion are accurately recorded.
VENTS is the world’s first automated and portable system for detecting the presence of oil in the breather system and logging the conditions under which it occurred. VENTS monitors the breather throughout a test, and electronically detects the presence of any oil in the breather tube. In the event of oil expulsion, it captures the event through a high resolution video camera and logs the relevant operating conditions for subsequent playback and analysis.
Not only does VENTS speed up the test, taking around 3 weeks instead of the more usual 8 weeks, but it can run unattended, 24 hours a day, releasing valuable engineering resource for more productive activities.
Already applied to test rigs, such as rock-and-roll installations, to examine the effects of operating under extremes of pitch or roll, VENTS can also be applied to ‘on vehicle’ installations by using remote communication to the camera. This enables the validation of breather systems concurrently with other vehicle test activities, allowing further savings in development costs.
Key System Features:
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Accelerated development often requires specialized test rigs for mechanical, control, actuation or other systems. Production facilities may also require custom rigs for integrated product testing as part of the quality assurance procedure.
DSD has the complete capability for engineering and in-house manufacture of test rigs for both component and system level applications. It can create rigs for complete transmissions or individual assemblies, such as actuators, synchronizer assemblies or park brakes.
We write and develop test rig control software in-house, allowing us to tailor testing to each customers’ unique requirements down to the finest of details. This capability has led us to write test control software for external operators, such as vehicle manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers, for their own use onsite.
DSD uses and is a beta tester of MASTA software for the simulation and engineering of transmissions and drivelines.
This integrated driveline system design and analysis software, written by Smart Manufacturing Technology, incorporates:
It is a versatile tool that enables an efficient creation of concept solutions. It provides detailed analysis on noise, durability or efficiency at an early stage, before investing in CAD time.
For more information about SMT’s MASTA software please see the company’s website.
DSD is the exclusive worldwide vendor of the clutch characterisation systems originally developed by MIRA, and supplies many of the world’s major OEMs and Tier One clutch producers.
The Pedal Rate system identifies vehicle launch rate, rather than stall rate, it takes account of factors including clutch damper, engine stallability, clutch system and accommodates components such as dual mass flywheels. Easy to install and operate, the system requires no laptop computer as it includes its own control box. Engine stallability calibration is also included.
The Pedal Loop system allows evaluation of clutch system attributes including engagement load, hysteresis and drop off. It can also be used for benchmarking of competitor products, production auditing and confirmation testing during vehicle development.
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