CVTcorp, a manufacturer of mechanical continuously variable transmissions (mCVT), shared the stage with Skyjack this week at World of Concrete held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on February 2-5 to launch their joint participation in the development of a mechanical CVT option for the new TH series of telehandlers. This announcement marks the first commercial introduction of the EcoMec 150 mechanical CVT transmission in the construction industry.
“This collaboration with Skyjack is the first application of our new EcoMec 150 mechanical CVT that will give Skyjack users a new definition of power and improved operator control. Once an operator uses a Skyjack TH telehandler with our CVT transmission, the operator will see important gains in productivity due to the improved functionality of the telehandler”, said Daniel Girard, president and CEO of CVTcorp. “Operators will also see dramatic fuel and time savings using our CVT technology since it allows the operator greater power at lower engine rpm”.
Brad Boehler, Linamar Skyjack Group president said, “Skyjack and CVTcorp have agreed a program to develop a continuously variable transmission solution for the TH series. From a Skyjack view point, this allows us to provide an innovative, yet proven, optional transmission that optimizes the telehandlers performance and lifespan. The infinite number of ratios provided by the transmission will enable the telehandlers to do more work with less fuel.”
“Combined with Skyjack’s SmarTorque, it will bring unequalled efficiency in the market”, added Barry Greenaway, product manager for Skyjack. “When compared with a powershift equipped unit, the CVT also makes machine operation easier and protects it from abrupt gear changes driveline abuse”.
“This is the first of a number of product launches with leading OEMs,” added Girard. “In the near future, different configurations of the design you see at this introduction will be available for various off-highway and industrial applications.”
CVTcorp’s toroidal mechanical CVT transmits torque between curved traction discs using actuated rollers, eliminating metal on metal contact using a specially formulated traction fluid. This allows output speed to be varied across an infinite number of ratios throughout the operating range. The transmission ensures that the machine is in the optimal ratio at all times, making machine operation easier than a comparable power-shift equipped unit the operator only has to choose forward or reverse.
“With over 500,000 hours of cumulative testing performed both by us and OEMs we have worked with much of which at higher power levels than used by Skyjack’s TH range we have a wealth of experience with our CVT design in equipment transmissions,” said Girard.
“Aside from the fuel savings, the nature of how our CVT works will result in real gains in terms of lifecycle costs for equipment managers,” Greenaway said. “Another real benefit over powershift transmissions is that the operator cannot abuse the drivetrain in the same way; the CVT smoothly ramps up for acceleration and deceleration with no shock loads from abrupt gear changes. In fact, the operator can shift into reverse while travelling at max forward speed with his foot firmly on the accelerator and the machine will smoothly decelerate and seamlessly transition into reverse.”
Skyjack and CVTcorp are currently carrying out internal testing using a SJ1056 TH telehandler, with the aim to begin customer field trials of the optional CVT transmission in the fourth quarter of 2016.
February 5, 2016
