New electric solution for off-highway applications

Latest off-highway electric drive transmission technology at Agritechnica 2017

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Oerlikon Fairfield, leading brand of Torque-Hub® since 1980, part of Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment, will present its innovative electric drive system for off-highway vehicles at Agritechnica 2017, Hanover, Germany, from 12 to 18 November. The system integrates an Oerlikon Fairfield Torque Hub planetary drive with an Interior Permanent Magnet Motor produced by Ashwoods Electrical Motors, to create an ultra-compact drive solution that is up to 30% smaller and lighter and 20% more efficient than traditional motors used in off-highway traction applications.

The journey to e-mobility in Oerlikon Fairfield started over fifteen years ago, with a project to convince a longtime customer to switch their machine from hydraulic to electric. Since that early victory the company has been able to capture business with many major players till the actual complete electric drive for off-highway applications.

The improved efficiency, small package size and competitive cost of this integrated solution sets a new benchmark for electric drives in the off-highway sector. The unit is so compact that it enables vehicle manufacturers to provide a steerable four-wheel-drive configuration where previously there was not enough space to offer this possibility.

The complete unit can deliver 4000Nm of drive torque and 5600Nm of braking torque, yet the motor is up to 30% smaller and lighter than current production solutions that use larger, less efficient brushed DC or induction motors coupled to a planetary gearbox. The Oerlikon Fairfield/Ashwoods Electric Motors solution provides a triple planetary ratio in the length of the standard double planetary design.

Combining the two technologies with an integrated Ultra electric parking brake has enabled the elimination of several duplicated or redundant components; for example, a common shaft is used for motor, brake and transmission. This approach saves weight, cost and package space.

The Oerlikon Fairfield Torque-Hub® planetary drive is already well-proven and widely used in off-highway vehicles and is available in single planetary, double planetary, triple planetary and differential planetary gearing configurations to meet the individual torque and operating speed requirements of different applications.

In addition to this technology Oerlikon Fairfield will show also its new hydrostatic drives for agricultural spray tractors, the Champion™ Series, designed specifically for the needs of modern self-propelled spray tractors. Three models, designated CO13, CO17 and CO26, have been developed, which offer a common design to accommodate a varying range of machine weights, speeds, tire offsets and braking performance covering machines with capacities from 2200 to 6000 litres.

Visit us at Agritechnica Hanover Hall 15, booth D12