Power transmission components in the off-highway market

Mourade Vaneeckhoutte, Sales Director Mobile Power Equipment of Altra Industrial Motion, looks at the demands placed on equipment in the field and how OEMs can use a mixture of standard and bespoke parts to deliver end products that are optimised for the application and their environment.

From bulldozers and excavators to forestry equipment; the off-highway sector covers a huge range of applications, each of which has its own challenges. Dust, water and, occasionally, chemicals, are in a constant battle with every component on this machinery. 

However, the scale of this equipment often requires considerable power to be distributed reliably and efficiently, a task that needs specialist components that are developed specifically with the application in mind. In this market, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, each machine has its own requirements and it is important to recognise this fact as early as possible in the design stages.

From clutches and couplings to brakes and linear actuators, the effective and smooth transfer of power and motion throughout a machine is crucial to its productivity and reliability. Manufacturers of these complex machines rely on specialist suppliers of power transmission and motion control components to ensure that both reliability and brand reputation are maintained.

To achieve optimum performance, designers on both sides need to collaborate and use their respective expertise to develop components and assemblies that will integrate seamlessly into the vehicle. The brands of Altra Industrial Motion are some of the leading manufacturers in the off-highway sector. Stromag, Warner Electric, Warner Linear, Stieber, Wichita Clutch, Guardian Couplings, Thomson and Twiflex are just some of the renowned brands that can apply their combined expertise to a project.

Together, they deliver a large number of solutions for clutches, couplings and hybrid drive assemblies, while customised service and parking brake solutions can also be designed. With this machinery being used in all weathers, any component exposed to the elements needs to be properly sealed and tested for long-term reliability.

As technology advances and the size of machines increase, so the need for components with greater capacity becomes apparent. Meeting this and the many other challenges of developing new products is a task that the designers can take in their stride.

When it comes to earth-moving and road construction equipment, many of the challenges are considerable but the power and braking requirements can be the largest of all. Providing compact and effective power transmission between the engine and the drive train is crucial to the reliable operation of this equipment. 

Downtime in such machinery needs to be kept to an absolute minimum, so reliability must be at the foundation of every component. For example, in brakes and clutches, the design of friction material must be optimised for each application. Similarly, spring-loaded couplings, such as the latest product launched by Stromag, need to be precisely matched to their application to deliver a long service life.

As drivetrain technology advances, so creating the optimum design of clutch / coupling combinations for hybrid drives becomes more important to ensure long-term reliability for the end user. Working with OEMs, the Altra brands can also offer fan clutches and air conditioning compressor clutches that help to reduce fuel consumption as well as linear actuators for throttle control and opening heavy access panels and hoods.