VanDyne SuperTurbo Inc. (VanDyne) and Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) announce that Fallbrook’s NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmission has been selected for use in the SuperTurbo for commercial vehicle applications. VanDyne will install a drive in two programs: a development program with a major diesel engine OEM and the company’s vehicle demonstrator, a Class 8 truck tractor, which as announced previously, is being co-developed with Allison Transmission Inc.
NuVinci CVP technology is a platform technology for a new class of continuously variable transmission (CVT) that utilizes spheres instead of gears or belts and can be deployed in a wide variety of applications to improve performance and/or system efficiency.
For the past 2 years, VanDyne has been testing a NuVinci variator in conjunction with a project for a major diesel engine OEM. “After 2 years of joint research, development and testing with the engine OEM, Fallbrook’s NuVinci technology has proven itself,” says Mark Herbst, President and CEO of VanDyne. “NuVinci technology’s high efficiency and ability to shift ratios extremely rapidly, together with the availability of a production-ready variator from Dana led us to incorporate it into our next generation design.”
Dana Incorporated (Dana) is a Tier-1, world-class automotive manufacturing supplier licensed by Fallbrook to develop and manufacture NuVinci technology applications for light vehicle transmissions. Dana markets its planetary variator under the brand name VariGlide.
The SuperTurbo utilizes Dana’s VariGlide variator coupled with a high speed traction drive to control turbocharger speed and allow for bidirectional torque transfer. Mechanically coupling the SuperTurbo to the engine either through the crankshaft or power take-off (PTO) eliminates turbo lag and enables turbo compounding, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
“This project is a prime example of efficient development through collaboration,” says William G. Klehm III, Fallbrook’s Chairman and CEO. “We are delighted that Dana’s excellent engineering and development progress with continuously variable planetary transmission technology will enable VanDyne to demonstrate its next generation variable speed SuperTurbo Drive sooner than might otherwise have been possible.”
