Dana Inc has debuted the new Spicer Electrified™ e-Powershift transmission, a modular and flexible two-speed solution that offers power take-off (PTO) functionality for electrified heavy-duty mining vehicles, at MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas.
Delivering high efficiency and superior performance in a compact package that simplifies the mining industry’s transition to electrification, the dual-motor version of the e-Powershift transmission supports continuous power outputs up to 240 kW, while the single-motor configuration is engineered for 120 kW of continuous output, the company says.
Its flexible, power-dense design makes it ideal for a wide range of applications, including small- to medium-sized loaders and trucks used in underground mining, as well as construction wheel loaders, large lift trucks and terminal tractors, the company says. The highly efficient dual-motor configuration shown at MINExpo delivers the optimal tractive effort in every duty cycle without torque interruption, according to Dana.
The Spicer Electrified e-Powershift transmission will be available for prototype testing by OEMs by the end of this year.
“For more than half a century, Dana has been a trusted top-tier supplier of drive systems that deliver superior performance for mining vehicles,” Jeroen Decleer, Senior Vice President, Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems for Dana Incorporated, says. “The new e-Powershift transmission showcases how we are leveraging our comprehensive portfolio of electrification technologies to provide mining OEMs with complete solutions that can help accelerate their journeys to e-Mobility.”
The launch of the Spicer Electrified e-Powershift transmission demonstrates how Dana is rapidly and effectively developing market-ready solutions that can help streamline and accelerate the mining industry’s transition to electrification, it says.
It is equipped with Dana TM4 high-voltage motors from 350 to 800 v to improve efficiency, reduce total package size and provide redundancy as needed. The motors have delivered field-proven performance and durability for hundreds of thousands of hours in underground mining and other heavy-duty applications, according to the company.
The e-Powershift transmission offers highly efficient shifting through a patented wet clutch and synchroniser, and it can be configured with four-wheel-drive disconnect and a PTO that eliminates the need for an additional motor and inverter, Dana explained.
The system is an efficient turnkey solution, with drivetrain integration simplified through the use of a single APC transmission control unit. It uses proprietary software engineered to optimise machine operation through numerous drive and PTO modes, including hill-hold and functional safety readiness.
The e-Powershift transmission is being shown as part of a complete system that includes heavy-duty Spicer® axles engineered to withstand the most severe mining environments while offering superior braking power for reliability under full load conditions on all operating grades. The system also includes Spicer driveshafts designed for longer life, minimal maintenance and lower operating costs.
The company also announced upgrades to its line of Brevini™ helical and bevel helical gearboxes used in mining and bulk material handling applications, with the new solutions available starting in early 2022.
The enhancements include three new monoblock models to more precisely address torque demands, as well as series-wide design enhancements that improve power density, the company says.
Offering nominal output torques up to 1,000 kNm, Brevini helical and bevel helical gearboxes provide the modularity and flexibility needed to optimise the performance of conveyors, stacker reclaimers, wagon tipplers, and ship loading and unloading equipment used in mining and bulk material handling, it says.