The automatic chip can lengthen life
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AUTOMATIC control of existing designs of mechanical gearboxes i one of the possibilities which becomes more feasible with ever development in microchip electronics.
This was the view of T. R. Radcliffe of Eaton Ltd when he addressed the Institute of Mechanical Engineers Conference, Impact of Vehicle Design on Whole Life Costing.
Mr Radcliffe claimed that such transmissions would have a high efficiency, a known performance and, if correctly used, could also give a fuel saving.
They would also have the ratio coverage necessary for heavy vehicles and also "extra heavy" ones, according to Mr Radcliffe.
He suggested this would lead to consideration of the current practice of using a mechanical transmission —synchromesh or constant mesh — behind a tor que converter which, Mr Rai cliffe claimed, was an ide transmission for stop/start d livery work.
As the torque converter loci out at a pre-set speed, it WC said that its inefficiencies woul not mean a serious increase fuel consumption while, at if same time, use of a torco. converter would ensure shoc less starting with a conseque benefit to the rest of the driv line.
Mr Radcliffe went on to si there was little doubt that aut matic and semi-automatic box' would increase the life of ti whole vehicle.