The Hilliard Corp. has launched a constant variable transmission (CVT) that it said was designed to be a more efficient drive system. The new CVT is engineered to fit a standard drive (primary) clutch and driven (secondary) clutch envelope, reducing the number and cost of modifications necessary for new vehicles, as well as those currently in the field.
The CVT was developed with belt protection at start up and during overload situations to extend overall life of the belt. A one-way overrunning clutch incorporated into the primary clutch assembly provides more consistent and reliable engine braking. The clutch is designed to maintain consistent torque even with extreme temperature variations, Hilliard said, and its heavy-duty design allows it to handle torque spikes from engine backfire.
Other features of Hilliard’s CVT include constant belt pinch, even at idle, to protect the belt from scrubbing during start-up. By allowing the torque limiting mechanism to slip and absorb all of the energy instead of the belt in overload conditions, Hilliard said the torque limiting mechanism is able to deliver 1000 lb. of pulling force to the ground.
The Hilliard torque limiting mechanism is independent from the shift mechanism, allowing the clutch to be tuned to any vehicle platform without affecting the protection range where the belt is most likely to be harmed in a conventional system. Hilliard’s engine braking technology is integrated directly into the primary clutch for smoother, more instantaneous engine braking, which utilizes the full engine compression.
Commonly used on ride-on power trowels, Hilliard’s CVT can also be incorporated into other applications where a continuous variable transmission is utilized. The company said it will work closely with manufacturers’ design engineers to ensure compatibility within their machine specifications.
Hilliard will showcase the new CVT at ConExpo-Con/Agg this spring.
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