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Nov9061
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Costly hybrid powertrains and exotic new fuels aren't the only options OEMs are pursuing to boost vehicle fuel econ- omy. Another quicker option is squeezing more efficiency from conventional engines by better managing how their power is used. Gates Corp., best known for its engine drive belts, has helped developed two systems that do just that. One is a belt-driven electro- mechanical drive (EMD) that enables an engine to shut down at a stoplight and restart instantly when the driver taps the throttle. The second is Drive, a two-speed belt drive that reduces power losses due Alexander Serkh, advanced product engineering manager at the Gates Technical Center in Rochester Hills, Mich., explains. with these two fuel-saving Both systems use special drive belts, and that's one of our centers of expertise. We've worked very closely with other compo- nent suppliers to develop both systems. How does an engine start-stop system work? Conventional cars have a starter motor geared directly to the engine's flywheel and a separate belt-driven alternator that provides electrical power to the vehicle once the engine is running. Gates electro- |—1 i\ , I p \ mechanical drive combines both W I I-1 V J functions in one belt-driven unit. ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DRIVE An electronic controller deter- mines when to shut off the engine, when to restart it and whether the starter-generator is working as an electric motor or power generator. Why does a start-stop system require a special belt? The load on the belt of a start-stop system is up to three times higher when the engine is being started as when it's running. And in some start-stop systems, the starter also is used to propel the vehicle for several seconds, which puts a sustained strain on the belt. Gates has developed a start-stop belt that lasts 150,000 miles and can handle 500,000 startups. Gates EMD tech- nology is in production now for two models built and sold in Europe by PSA Peugeot Citroen and currently on the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid SUV in North America. What about Gates' two-speed belt drive? This solution addresses the inherent problem of wasting engine power when driving accessories such as the power steering pump and air conditioning compressor. Accessories are powered by a drive belt that loops around a pulley on the end of the engine's driveshaft and pulleys on each device. The faster the engine goes the faster all the accessories turn. The problem is that accessories are generally designed to function at engine speeds at or slightly above idle. At actual driving speeds, the engine wastes power by turning accessory pulleys faster than necessary. We've come up with a system called E^ Drive that can improve drive effi- ciency, boost fuel economy and benefit the environment. How does E*3 Drive improve Economy, Our system utilizes two belts. One drives the accessories at their optimized speed during cruising to reduce engine power consumption. When the engine slows to idle, the second accessory drive belt is automatically enabled, which increases the accessory drive to a proper speed. The system uses standard components and only needs to work during idle —about 5% of running time. Competing devices reduce pulley speed during above- idle conditions, so they must operate 95% of the time, thereby raising noise and durability issues. Our system allows accessories to operate more efficiently at closer to idle-speed than today's systems. This reduction in speed allows for greater component reliability and durability and enables the engine to produce more torque for vehicle acceleration. As a result, the E^ Drive System produces a more optimal accessory drive, while reducing fuel consump- tion and CO2 emissions by as much as 5% each. To learn more about Gates and its electromechanical drive and E3 systems, contact Darren Greene at (248) 260-2313 Contents © 2006 Hampton AutoBeat LLC. All rights reserved.

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Nov9061
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Nov9061 1Pages

Catalog excerpts

All GATES catalogs and technical brochures

Archived catalogs

Nov9061
1Pages