Schaeffler at Hannover Messe 2013 (Hall 22, booth A12)Concept Motorcycle for Low to Medium Performance Classes
Schaeffler is positioning itself as a pioneer of efficient and cost-effective mobility with a concept motorcycle for low to medium performance classes at this years Hannover Messe. Our numerous newly-developed components for engines, transmissions and chassis are geared towards the special requirements in the growing two-wheel vehicle market in Asia and South America. There is a high demand here for energy-efficient, cost-effective and durable components in order to facilitate individual mobility for broad sectors of the population. As one of the leading suppliers for the global two-wheel vehicle market, Schaeffler is setting innovative trends here and is making consistent use of the synergy effects from its Automotive division. The main trends in both sectors are the optimization of the combustion process and mechanical efficiency as well as mechatronics and electric mobility. The optimization of conventional drivetrains in motorcycles is an important factor for the mobility of the future, particularly in the densely populated urban centers of emerging nations. With our new components, we make an important contribution to reducing fuel consumption and emissions with high reliability, robustness and cost-effectiveness, says Juergen Stoelzle, Director of Schaefflers Motorcycle sector. Our new wheel bearing with a seal with optimized friction behavior, our particularly high-performance but low-weight one-way starter clutch, and our chain drive system that has been specially adapted to the requirements of smaller motorcycles are excellent examples of how we achieve this.
Better sealing means longer life - less friction with better sealing action
FAGs new wheel bearing featuring an efficient lip seal (ELS) is a new deep groove ball bearing with reduced friction and a lip seal on one or both sides that has been specially developed for applications with a rotating outer ring. Its main advantage is the unbeatable combination of reliability and energy efficiency that it provides. This enables the frictional torque and thus the power loss of the wheel bearing to be significantly reduced at increasing speeds with improved sealing action. To achieve this reduction of around 30 percent in the friction values compared to wheel bearings without ELS seals, the bearings internal construction, manufacturing quality, and sealing were adapted to produce maximum energy efficiency. The ingress of contamination and water into the inside of the bearing is hindered by giving the outer side a dirt-resistant shape and making the gap between the inner ring and the dust shield lip as narrow as possible. At the same time, the newly-designed grease guard on the inner side of the seal reliably ensures that the high-quality grease stays in the bearing. The new ELS therefore fulfills seemingly contradictory requirements: With its increased sealing action it provides better protection for the bearing and considerably reduces the frictional torque at the same time thus reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The dimensions of the FAG deep groove ball bearing correspond to those of the existing types. They are standardized according to the DIN and can therefore be used to replace used bearings without any problems.
One-way starter clutch with high power density
Our new INA one-way starter clutch of series FRAX was developed with improving performance and reducing fuel consumption in mind, since higher torques can be transmitted using the new one-way starter clutch, for which a reduction in weight of 44% has been achieved. The new robust design ensures maximum operational safety, even when subjected to overloading. The extremely compact design simplifies the end customers installation procedure and thus not only significantly reduces the weight of the system, but also cuts installation costs. The one-way starter clutch is manufactured using forming methods with very high process reliability. The high quantities manufactured generate another advantage in terms of costs for our customers. Due to its low weight, it also makes a contribution to cutting fuel consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. The power loss during idling has been reduced to a minimum accordingly by means of optimal spring loading. If a rotating outer ring is used, the rollers can even lift off the inner ring so that the roller clutch itself does not generate unnecessary frictional energy. INA roller clutches from Schaeffler manufactured using forming methods are used in numerous sectors of the automobile and vehicle manufacturing industries and are developed using state-of-the-art calculation and simulation methods. To ensure the highest level of reliability for use in volume production, the functionality in conjunction with the customer's adjacent components is verified on in-house test stands. Tests can be performed individual components and components fitted in the vehicle.
Extra-narrow inverted tooth chain for motorcycle chain drives
Another innovation that Schaeffler is launching on the two-wheel vehicle market is a chain drive system including a high-performance inverted tooth chain. The I632 IC NARROW inverted tooth chain is extremely low friction, generates very little noise, is wear resistant and durable. It is an optimal addition to Schaefflers new chain drive system that has been specially developed for the requirements of smaller motorcycles. Whereas larger motorcycles are equipped with larger oil pumps and therefore hydraulic chain tensioning systems, Schaeffler offers a maintenance-free, integrated mechanical tensioning system for smaller motorcycles. The simple but effective mechanism compensates chain elongation and heat expansion and also has reduced weight and space requirements. Combined with a special tooth geometry
