Automotive
CVTs & Related Products |
FTI
specializes in the design, development and commercialization
of Hydromechanical CVTs and Torque Vectoring
Axles. |
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Hydromechanical
CVTs |
FTI's
unique patented technology allows a vehicle's engine
to function over its most efficient operating range,
thereby greatly improving system efficiency. Concepts
exist to suit engine powers ranging from 8 hp to 800
hp. Typical applications for this technology include,
but are not limited to: passenger and commercial vehicles,
hybrid vehicle drivetrains, all terrain vehicles (ATVs),
construction and agricultural equipment, hydromechanical
cooling fan drives, and flywheel energy storage devices.
The FTI CVT architecture has great flexibility and can
be arranged in many different configurations to suit
the diverse range of vehicle layouts.
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Unlike
other types of continuously variable transmissions,
there is virtually no limit to the torque capacity
that the FTI CVT can handle. The design is scaleable
to any power and torque input/output, and they
are more compact and lighter than other types
of CVT's of similar power. Basic low-cost traditional
automotive manufacturing technology and materials
are used, and the transmissions are highly suited
to mass production. The FTI CVT technology can
also be adapted to many other applications with
resulting improvements to efficiency, performance,
or both. Anywhere that a variable speed drive
is required, an FTI CVT can be configured to provide
the user with the optimum solution. |
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The
heart of the FTI CVT is the unique hydrostatic
pump/motor design. This proprietary technology
offers outstanding power density when compared
to standard commercially available hydrostatic
units (HSU). In fact the FTI pump and motor assembly,
including the valve body module, is approximately
the same size and 1/2 the weight of just one commercially
available motor of similar capacity. |
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| 300hp
Automotive CVT being Dynamometer tested |
300hp
Automotive CVT |
The FTI hydromechanical
CVT technology has been in development for over 20 years.
Many different designs have been built and tested for
durability and performance, and the knowledge obtained
has been incorporated into the latest configurations.
Demonstrated performance exceeds current belt and traction
CVTs and the technology provides additional functionality
of hydraulic regeneration (energy recovery during braking
and deceleration - ideal for city operation), high efficiency
at all times (especially final ratio - ideal for highway
operation) and exceptional low speed vehicle controllability
(ideal for off-road operation). In short, the FTI CVT
provides unmatched performance under any condition.
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50/100hp
FWD City Car CVT |
70hp
Fan Drive CVT |
350hp
RWD Passenger Vehicle CVT (2nd gen) |
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programs include CVTs for a 350hp full size rear wheel
drive(RWD) passenger vehicle (second generation design
co-funded by NYSERDA) and a 50/100hp FWD City Car. Both
units are undergoing dynamometer and in vehicle testing
for control optimization and customer demonstration. An
all terrain derivative of the city car CVT has been developed
for a military application. A number of prototypes are
currently being installed in vehicles and we anticipate
field testing later in 2007. |
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50/100hp
FWD City Car undergoing Dynamometer testing |
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application for which FTI has designed CVTs: |
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FTI proprietary pump and motor technology has also been
extended to provide torque-vectoring functioning in passenger
vehicle drivelines for enhanced dynamic stability. This
allows the transmission output torque to be dynamically
and continuously varied across the axle or between front
and rear axles of an AWD vehicle. The overall objective
is to provide an improvement in the “safe handling”
limits of a vehicle. During cornering, it enables the
rear axle to “overspeed” and then directs
more torque to the outside rear wheel to generate inward
yaw that helps to reduce the tendency for FWD and AWD
vehicles to understeer. The system also stabilizes oversteer
situations, such as when the throttle is abruptly shut
while cornering. A number of manufacturers are already
offering friction type torque vectoring features (whereby
drive is modulated using clutches) in some of their vehicles,
but only the FTI system offers differential locking capability.
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HTVA for
Sports Sedan |
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The
friction type systems also generate significant heat in
high dynamic conditions due to the necessity for the clutch
plates to frequently slip during operation. This is not
a problem in the FTI design, as all torque transmittal
is performed using the high efficiency positive displacement
hydraulic pump/motor units. Initially, only premium vehicles
will incorporate torque vectoring axles due to the inherent
extra complexity and cost but ultimately they are anticipated
to be commonplace. The FTI hydromechanical torque vectoring
technology offers advantages in packaging and performance
and can also be integrated with a CVT. A prototype unit
configured for use in a Ford Explorer has been successfully
dynamometer tested and a number of more compact designs
with improved functionality have been generated for other
vehicles. |
Prototype
HTVA undergoing Dynamometer testing |
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