ORBITAL TRACTION, LTD. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A17-112

Description

Orbital Traction proposes to demonstrate, through research and modeling, the fuel efficiency and performance gains achievable on military vehicles through optimization of the driveline using an innovative torque multiplication technology. This system replaces the existing torque converter, thereby addressing energy inefficiency within the driveline in ground vehicle transmissions. The reduction in fuel consumption would enable longer mission durations and/or increase operating ranges for the vehicles.Implementation of the new system, in conjunction with proper controls, is expected to yield a reduction in fuel usage, over standard mission profiles, by greater than 20%.Orbitals solution is a drop-in replacement for the torque converter and can be used to upgrade existing military transmissions.Leveraging prior DoD research, Orbital proposes research on a torque converter replacement with the novel application of an infinitely-variable speed transmission.Orbitals infinitely-variable transmissiontorque multiplier would eliminate many of the limitations of existing torque converters for heavy duty vehicles.The unit would provide a gear-neutral allowing input rotation with zero output rotation while maintaining output torque.At low speeds, substantially more torque can be produced.Packaging the system within the existing space claim minimizes the level of modification while maximizing performance improvements for optimum benefits.