As a partner to the North American automotive industry, Schaeffler is dedicated to developing and manufacturing engine system solutions for the demanding challenges in its future. To demonstrate its systems expertise, the company is currently displaying its portfolio of engine technologies at the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) at Cobo Center in Detroit.
As a partner with a holistic approach to the development and production of engine systems, Schaeffler strives to offer concepts with a wide range of options so we can customize our systems to meet our customers’ geographic- and market-specific needs,” said Bob Zito Director, engine systems engineering, Schaeffler. “By focusing on engine systems holistically, we’re able to integrate a number of our fuel economy and emission reducing technologies to make a notable impact to help automakers satisfy the upcoming CAFE standards.”
Below are some of Schaeffler’s displayed engine technologies and systems that are helping automakers meet CAFE standards:
- Thermal Management Module (TMM) – TMM optimizes engine and transmission temperatures, as well as hybrid components and batteries, to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to four percent. A temperature control unit for the entire drivetrain, it provides the proactive management of engine temperatures to reduce warm-up time, increase efficiency range from the engine to the transmission to the turbocharger, as well as improve energy efficiency and lifespan of components.
- Valvetrain Systems – valvetrain lift geometries are typically constrained based on the cam profile design, which creates compromises within the engine system design. Optimal valvetrain design requires different valve lift profiles across the speed / load range of most engine systems. These valve lift modes are available with Schaeffler’s UniAir system. While cam phasing and switchable valvetrain systems can provide this flexibility in discrete cases, the UniAir system can provide the needed flexibility within one hardware package with adaptable modes for the changing engine system operating conditions. These modes can lead to a 10 percent CO2 reduction over conventional engine configurations.
- Variable Valvetrain – internal combustion engines have to fulfill increasingly stringent requirements with regard to carbon dioxide emissions and exhaust pollutants, and this means a decisive role for the valvetrain. On the one hand, it should be designed in such a way that the losses occurring during the charge cycle are low and on the other hand it creates the prerequisite for the best possible mixture preparation in the cylinder for a combustion process that provides optimum efficiency and low emissions. To account for this, Schaeffler’s has developed engine technologies that shift the valve lift curve using camshaft phasing units, as well as enhance the variation of the valve lift curve (in terms of the lift height and the opening and closing point) therefore improving the resulting opening period.
- Decoupling Belt Tensioner – an optimized belt tensioner for belt start-stop systems that reacts to changing force demands in both the tight and slack spans. Integrated directly into the belt starter generator, the technology can be combined with 12V, 48V and high voltage belt starter generators. The belt ten-sioner enables belt driven engine starts, including “change of mind” starts, as well as offers the possibility of high speed and comfortable starts and belt-driven cold starts. The tensioner requires little axial space, supports regenerative loading of the battery and boost, enables load point increase or decrease by generator load control, and is the ideal belt tension under all operating conditions.
- Rolling Bearings for Turbo Chargers – for 10 years, Schaeffler has led the way in the development and supply of low-friction double row angular contact ball bearings for turbocharger technologies. During this time, the company has perfected its application analysis, design tools and manufacturing methods. These precision ball bearings have helped set new turbocharger performance benchmarks for the future, particularly in the passenger car, light duty and heavy duty truck markets.
This is the 10th consecutive year Schaeffler is participating as a sponsor and exhibitor at NAIAS. This year the company will host media, customers and invited guests in its 10,000 square-foot Technology Suite in room 360. In addition to engine technologies, the company will also show its transmission systems and CAFE demonstrator vehicle.
