Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton and Cummins Inc. unveiled a new powertrain package for the North American heavy-duty truck market that is expected to deliver a 3% to 6% fuel economy improvement, lower preventive maintenance costs, and total lifecycle cost improvements.
The new product combines an Eaton Fuller Advantage Series automated transmission with new Cummins ISX15 SmartTorque2 ratings. The product will be available in the fall of 2013 for linehaul, regional haul and less-than-truckload applications.
Speaking at a media event recently at the American Trucking Associations' annual Technology & Maintenance Council meeting, executives from both companies said this product announcement is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Eaton and Cummins. The powertrain package promises to deliver a more fuel efficient, reliable and robust powertrain package.
The Eaton Fuller Advantage Series automated transmission will be offered as a small ratio step Over-Drive model with new Cummins ISX15 SmartTorque2 ratings: the ISX15 415 ST2, with torque of 1450 pounds-feet to 1650 pounds-feet (1966-2237 N•m), and the ISX15 450 ST2, with torque of 1550 pounds-feet to 1750 pounds-feet (2012-2373 N•m).
Through a combination of hardware and software enhancements, the powertrain package benefits include:
• Integrated power, fuel and shifting strategies to provide 3% to 6% fuel economy improvement for linehaul and regional haul applications.
-Optimized engine and transmission communications and new control logic that enable further engine downspeeding in the overdrive position, and the effective use of direct drive technology in operational conditions required for efficiency.
One of the main enhancements Eaton has made with its Fuller Advantage Series transmission is the elimination of the cooler; this helps reduce the overall package weight and improve reliability. Combined with the use of aluminum for the rear transmission housing, range cylinder, shift bar housing and the shift tower - along with a thin wall, cast iron main case design - this results in the new transmission weighing 75 pounds less than Eaton's UltraShift PLUS LAS base model.
A new precision lubrication system for efficient transmission lubrication further enhances fuel economy by reducing churning losses.
The powertrain package is currently undergoing field testing with various sized fleets, and initial testing and customer validation results are confirming the 3% to 6% fuel economy improvement. The powertrain package goes into production in the fall 2013.
