Daimler builds double-clutch transmission for a truck?! Posted 2010/07/29 @ 07:00 AM By Spencer Woods
We usually stay out of commercial vehicle news, but this one is something that caught our attention: Fuso, Daimler's subsidiary for industrial vehicles, has made a double-clutch transmission for trucks. Yup, the technology that supercar makers tout as part of the race-inspired engineering has now gone to the trashman. But don't expect any well-heeled Italian and German car enthusiasts to go drag racing with their lawn care guys just yet, the automated manual system is geared for fuel economy in its industrial use. For those who care to know more, read the press release below:
PRESS RELEASE
Fuso has presented a world first with a double-clutch transmission for commercial vehicles. The new transmission drives like an automatic transmission, but unlike a fully automatic torque converter transmission, it makes for lower consumption figures and therefore lower exhaust emissions. The double-clutch transmission is an automated manual transmission. As with a fully automatic transmission it is a two-pedal system, there is an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal and a selector lever. The selector lever allows automatic or manual gearshift mode to be selected.
The M038S6 "Duonic transmission" has six forward gears and a reverse gear. The P-function ensures safe parking by preventing the vehicle from rolling away. "Duonic" features a non-wearing wet clutch, which lowers maintenance costs by eliminating the need to replace worn clutch discs. A creep function has been added to the wet clutch, as is usual for automatic transmission with a torque converter. This enables the vehicle's speed to be easily controlled when moving slowly - for example when manoeuvring or in stop-and-go traffic - and hill-starts are also made easier.
