Spring coupling in dump truck in use for decades

The Spring clutches from Torsion Control Products (TCP) have a special torsional elasticity. This makes them suitable for applications with modern diesel engines such as those in Mobile work machines such as agricultural machinery, construction machinery, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and mining. Now TCP has a custom coupling for one of the largest in the world dump Truck developed. The spring clutch has an extremely long service life.

Content of the technical article:

• Dump truck coupling with 20.000 operating hours
• Expert comment
• Intelligent damping increases service life

The production of one of the world's largest mining vehicles presented a long-standing TCP customer with a major challenge. He had to go for that 400 t heavy, gear-operated dump truck 3000 PS Provide performance. This performance should be two connected via a TCP coupling 12-cylinder engines realize. The originally selected standard coupling only lasted 250 hours under these extreme conditions.

Dump truck coupling with 20.000 operating hours

The designers at TCP then developed a special, maintenance-friendly coupling designed for over 20.000 operating hours. This has been specially matched to the drive system and now also meet the service life requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. The tailor-made spring clutch can be used permanently and has made it possible to successfully market the dump truck. After almost two decades, the coupling is still in use by the customer today.

Safety coupling protects non-destructive tunnel boring machines

 Expert comment

"Vehicle machines, for example in mining, the construction industry and agriculture, require clutches that have to cope with an increasingly cramped installation space," says dr Peter Jaschke, Head of Corporate Development at TCP.

“The couplings must be able to adapt to a wide variety of conditions, such as a tight installation space in which the heat generated cannot be dissipated due to the seals. Or it must be able to bridge greater distances to other components of the drive train that are not installed near the clutch or the engine. ”

“Motors in mobile machines have a wide speed range. Your characteristic must always reflect the ideal speed while maximizing available power and minimizing emissions. With modern diesel engines, the torque is getting higher and higher at low speeds and this requires a perfectly matched clutch, ”explains Dr. Peter Jaschke.

“Engines and machines are also becoming increasingly lightweight, which too more dynamic drivetrains leads. Components that are getting smaller and smaller have to get more and more power under control. A lightweight design also means a higher level of vibration on the motor side and more shock loads on the drive side. The required damping of these vibrations on both sides of the clutch is becoming increasingly important. "

Intelligent damping increases service life

diesel engines achieve low emission values ​​with high power density as well as high torques at low speeds. Even under the harshest environmental conditions, they dampen the vibrations of the drive train and ensure reliable operation.

Why it is so important to install a safety clutch

The spring couplings can be adjusted and optimally matched to the drive system via the "Smart Damping" system. Depending on the situation, torsional vibrations are damped or vibration systems decoupled if damping would have an adverse effect on the overall system. Torque peaks when starting, switching off and briefly fluctuating events are reduced. This significantly increases the service life of the clutch.

The spring clutch series from TCP are available in different versions with a torque range of 27 to 27.000 Nm cover. The manufacturer has been developing, producing and selling a large selection of torsionally flexible couplings for mobile machines for over 30 years. In April 2017, TCP joined the listed US company Timken.