2016-01-11 | 000-006-540 DE-EN
SCHAEFFLER AG, DETROIT
Total efficiency in the drivetrain: Interactive engines and transmissions
On the road to optimum total system solutions
While there are significant differences in the mobility needs around the world, vehicle transmissions have a decisive role to play in terms of the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of mobility in all regions of the world. The development of energy efficient transmission concepts will therefore become increasingly important in the future. Continuous increases in efficiency and high levels of electrification will define the technological path of the drive architecture. Transmissions will therefore have an important part to play in the future of the engine and the overall efficiency of the drivetrain.
Interdisciplinary developmental work is the key to success
Finding the optimum combination of the individual components is a critical factor in reducing consumption. In this respect, Schaeffler offers the automotive industry benefits that are not available from any other supplier. A key to Schaeffler's success is its interdisciplinary developmental work where expertise from different specialist areas is brought together. The internal combustion engine, the transmission and the electrical components are regarded as a single unit in order to produce joint solutions.
One example is the close coordination of the development work involved in cylinder deactivation strategies in the internal combustion engine, the effects on the timing drive and the required control of the modified torsional vibration excitations using optimized damper systems in the transmission, states Klaus Cierocki, Vice President, Engine Systems at Schaeffler.
The comprehensive product portfolio of solutions in and around the engine, transmission and chassis leads to synergistic development of customer-oriented products.
Optimizing the internal combustion engine
Measures to optimize the combustion engine are a particular point of focus. Apart from reducing friction - through a highly efficient coating process in the valve train or by replacing plain bearings with rolling bearings or through efficient tensioning and decoupling systems in the auxiliary drive assembly - Schaeffler is also working on the introduction of turbochargers supported by rolling bearings, increasing thermodynamic efficiency and a diverse range of technical solutions. For example:
Thermal management: An important element is the Thermal Management Module (TMM) which accurately controls the temperature balance in the engine in an energy efficient way, and allows the ideal temperature window for the engine and the transmission to be reached rapidly. This unit can also provide parallel control of the temperature balance in hybrid components and batteries. The cold running phase can be shortened considerably by blocking off the engines cooling jacket while individual components can be run hotter than would otherwise be possible with thermostatic control. The module therefore also has a positive effect on the operating life of drivetrain components. A further benefit is being able to reduce the engine temperature while under full load, thus reducing the tendency towards knocking and full load enrichment.
All of this makes this module, which can be adapted to suit customer requirements, a key element in the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This technology has been successfully introduced in the European and Asian markets and will be used in volume production in the North American market in 2017. The most recent generation of the TMM is a modular design and is more compact and has additional functions, such as intelligent smart actuator technology. Integrating control into the module takes some of the strain off the engine control system and leads to optimum coordination of all operating points. As part of the company's In the Region, for the Region strategy, Schaeffler will also manufacture the TMM in continental America in the future.
Variable valve train: From phasing units and switchable finger followers through to the fully-variable valve train system UniAir, Schaeffler offers a comprehensive range of products for variability in the valve train. Tailor-made operating strategies, such as cylinder deactivation or special valve stroke curves, can be produced to suit customer requirements. The start of volume production of the UniAir technology in 2009 marked the beginning of a new era in valve control systems. At the same time, Schaeffler set a new technological standard for environmentally-friendly and dynamic engines. To date, over one million UniAir systems have been produced in North America and this will exceed to two million globally in 2016. The fully-variable electrohydraulic valve train system UniAir controls the engine valves and allows almost any valve stroke to be realized. It is possible to achieve considerable reductions in consumption and emissions through this technology, as well as a significant improvement in torque curves.
Partially and fully-variable valve train systems also allow individual cylinders to be deactivated while driving. So, for example, the fuel consumption of an eight-cylinder vehicle could be reduced by temporarily running on four cylinders. Hydraulically switchable valve train components are usually used to deactivate specific cylinders. UniAir provides an extended range of options for matching engine operation to specific situations or requirements, such as rolling cylinder deactivation where each cylinder can be switched off in turn. A key advantage is that the deactivated cylinder does not cool down, allowing the system to reactivate more quickly after a cold start.
Electromechanical camshaft phasing unit: Another approach is replacing hydraulic systems with electromechanical systems. Schaefflers
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
15/06/2026
Detach from Direct-Attached: How Remote Editing with EVO Keeps Creative Teams Mo...
14/06/2026
Library captures 1960s R&B/pop drum sound
Following on from their recent wave of plug-in effects, Iconic Instruments have just launched an all-new virtual d...
14/06/2026
HBO Comedy Rooster Shot with URSA Cine 17K 65
Brie Clayton June 14, 2026
0 Comments
Large format brings viewers intimately close to characters.
Black...
13/06/2026
Latest expansion pack includes 252 presets
Devious Machines have recently introduced another expansion for their powerful multi-effects plug-in, Infiltrator...
13/06/2026
Create custom DAW/plug-in controllers using prompts
MetaGrid have recently introduced an all-new AI Builder function to their touchscreen-based control surf...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production, Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it has given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what o...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
AgentPerf from Artificial Analysis, the industry's first agentic AI benchmark, gives developers, enterprises and infrastructure providers a clear way to com...
2016-01-11 | 000-006-540 DE-EN
