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Eaton Adds Low-Speed Enhancements to Transmissions

September 22, 2015

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The UltraShift Plus automated manual transmission. Photo: Eaton

Eaton has added two optional features to the company’s UltraShift Plus and Fuller Advantage automated manual transmissions designed to enhance low-speed maneuverability.

The new Urge to Move and Blended Pedal features improve low-speed handling in situations such as backing into a loading dock or maneuvering in a construction job site.

Urge to Move allows the vehicle to automatically start moving when the transmission is in gear and the service brakes are released. After the vehicle has launched it will creep at a constant speed while the engine is at idle without needing to apply the accelerator.

Blended Pedal lets a driver directly control clutch engagement at engine idle through accelerator positioning and enables movement at varying speeds. The feature allows for a finer level of control that was previously exclusive to manual transmissions, according to Eaton.

“Both Urge to Move and Blended Pedal allow for controlled motion, controlled discharge of payloads, and more controlled operation when launching the vehicle,” said Evan Vijithakumara, product strategy manager for Eaton.

The new features are enabled by an electronic clutch actuator which allows for smoother and more precise shifting at low speeds. The electronic actuator quickly pulls back the clutch bearings, disengages and re-engages the clutch to perform shifts regardless of engine rpm.

“The end result blends three-pedal operating performance at low speeds with all the benefits of our latest driver-friendly two-pedal automated technologies,” said Vijithakumara.

Both options are available for free and configurable with ServiceRanger 4 and will be available in the Standard and Professional packages by the end of the year. They are available on all models of UltraShift Plus transmissions and Fuller Advantage automated transmissions including the SmartAdvantage powertrain and the integrated powertrains from International and Paccar.

 

[Scrap]

Just to clarify the article, this isn't the dock thumping and pin thumping that everyone talks about. That was solved 5 years ago with the electric clutch in the first place. This is low speed torque control like we were talking about in the direct drive thread. It is hard to put in to words but urge to move is just like an automatic where it just starts going when you let off the brakes. You don't have to tip in to get it to clutch in like the old normal. It takes a bit to get used to if you are an old hand at the 2 pedal. I still forget and freak myself out every once in awhile.