Clever new gearbox Hops on th(
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VIAXWELL Bus Transmissions of their ultra-simple automatically-co flywheel rather than a torque conve Loughborough have launched ntrolled bus gearbox, with a fluid rter.
One box has already been itted to a Leicester City Trans)ort Dennis Dominator doublelocker, and has completed over 10,000 miles in service.
Another six prototype gear)oxes are now being assessed in )ominators operated by South (orkshire PTE, Maidstone and )istrict, Greater Manchester fransport, and the Scottish Bus 3roup, and another has gone nto a London Transport Daimler :leetline.
One-time Daimler bus engileer Peter Windsor-Smith is the )rains behind the project, and has set up a factory in partnership with Raymond Tailby.
The gearbox, which has been developed for nearly five years, is said to be more fuel efficient, due to there being little power loss or transmission slip. Clutch components are instantly accessible, minimising labour costs and downtime.
Its smooth gear changes from CAV fully-automatic control switches override drive error. The constant torque retarder lessens brake wear, and this, combined with the box's fewer working parts, make it lighter and more compact than such rival transmissions as the Voith D851.
Maxwell will manufacture and market the gearbox from Loughborough and says it has suffi cient production capacity to meet projected British and overseas demand.
It is already accepting orders from operators and sees a large market on such new vehicles as the Dominator and MCW Metrobus as well as a retrospective market for older designs like the Fleetline.
Full driving impressions and an engineering assessment will appear in future issues of CM.