ArvinMeritor's Commercial Vehicle Systems business and its clutch technology partner, ZF Sachs AG, have announced a new, self-adjusting twin-plate clutch designed to reduce the downtime and expense associated with manual clutch adjustments. The Twin XTend 15.5" self-adjusting clutch for Class 8 vehicles continually maintains proper adjustments throughout the lifetime of the clutch.
The Twin XTend clutch will be manufactured by ZF Sachs, with production scheduled to begin during fourth-quarter 2004. ArvinMeritor will provide sales and service support through its DriveTrain Plus organization.
Besides eliminating the need for manual clutch adjustments, the Twin XTend clutch offers:
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Controlled center plate release feature. The cover assembly incorporates this patented feature, designed to prevent clutch drag and provide superior engagement.
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Wear indicator. This provides a simple means of gauging remaining clutch life.
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Long-travel, soft-damper disc assemblies. This design prevents damaging torsional vibrations to harm the drivetrain by tuning the drivetrain's natural frequency outside of the vehicle operating range. Pre-damper versions of the disc assembly are also available for drivetrains susceptible to transmission neutral idle gear rattle.
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Extended-lube and long-life release bearing options. These options can further extend clutch life and reduce maintenance requirements.
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Diaphragm spring architecture. This provides low pedal effort, which increases driver comfort.
The Twin XTend will be available in torque ratings from 1,150 to 2,050 ft-lb.