LT3 line traction drive
A quantum leap in drive technology
LT3 line traction drive (following the theoretical flow curve of a wheel) to substitute the differential technique and increase traction and performance in axle-driven wheeled vehicles
Function and application possibilities
The basic principle of the LT3 drive system is a planetary gear in which the ring gear is designed to be rotatable. The rotation is made possible by roller piston cylinders, which act specifically on a wave-shaped formation of the ring gear.
When fixing the ring gear through the cylinders, the transmission has the normal mechanical translation of the present planetary / ring gear combination. When the ring gear is completely released, there is no transmission of force to the planet cage, the cage does not rotate. In between are all speeds, i.e. from 0 to max. infinitely and within a few milliseconds, “online” adjustable according to compensation needs.
The technique has been verified in several cooperation projects with KIT-Mobima. LT3 is designed for high torques up to 8,000 Nm. A feasibility study for heavy vehicles was successfully completed in 2016. The implementation in a mobile prototype will be done by 2019.
Outlook
The LT3 technology can be immediately downsized for smaller systems. Suitable applications are all systems in which synchronization tasks or speed superimpositions are necessary, for example:
- Automotive: off-road, e-mobility, as a substitution of differentials
- E-bike: gait spread, optimal energy yield
- Agricultural machinery: tractors, loaders and harvesters, landscaping and municipal vehicles
- Heavy Duty: 4 × 4 to 8 × 8 emergency vehicles, also for heavy duty and extreme weight
- Construction machinery: articulated front loader, construction site vehicles, road paver
- Replacement for each superposition gearbox (e.g. wind power)
In today’s differentials, dynamic driver assistance systems generally intervene by braking action on the respective critical wheel. LT3, on the other hand, enables pre-planned control of each driven wheel and thus an active torque vectoring, which foresights every driving situation. LT3 can be used to achieve savings in production. Visco or Haldex coupling and Torsen differential are eliminated: the ASR assistant is no longer required. In particular, by eliminating lateral and / or longitudinal differentials, a considerable savings potential can be realized.
For all applications, LT3 offers tangible benefits in terms of performance improvement and / or cost savings. Both are arguments that convince both the production and the customer.