In order to drive cooling units in the truck models Actros and Atego of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler relies on V-ribbed belts of ContiTech with low friction. The CONTI UNIPOWER TOUGH GRIP ensures a reliable and quiet drive, dynamic force peaks are reduced by up to 70 per cent.
The cooling generators which produce around 36 kW are operated as ancillaries in the Actros and Atego engines. “The generators have a high rotating mass,” explains Guido Grande, Key Account Manager, Commercial Vehicles Europe, at ContiTech Power Transmission Group. “A standard V-ribbed would resonate very strongly due to its higher coefficient of friction. This would cause unacceptably high movements of the tensioner arm, whereby the belt could jump off the drive.”
The solution is using the CONTI UNIPOWER TOUGH GRIP, which has a very low coefficient of friction. “During force peaks, which result from the interaction of the high rotating mass and the rotational irregularity of the crankshaft, the belt is able to slip shortly”, says Grande. Belt vibrations and movements of the tensioner arm can thus be reduced. The drive runs much smoother, and furthermore the lifetime of the accessory drive is increased.
The CONTI UNIPOWER TOUGH GRIP owes its low coefficient of friction to its special surface on the rib side, which is coated with a highly abrasion-resistant, dynamically stable special fabric, thereby providing optimum grip for maximum smoothness. By using it, the noise level during operation of ancillary units is particularly minimized under difficult conditions, as they may occur due to moisture and misalignment.
ContiTech expands air spring app to include more languages
ContiTech Air Spring Systems has expanded its successful web app for air springs in the replacement market for commercial vehicles. Now customers in Europe can also search for the right air spring in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Polish and Russian. “Once the smartphone or tablet is set to one of these languages, the app automatically switches to the relevant language version,” explains Alexander Papadimitriou, head of the Commercial Vehicle Replacement segment at ContiTech Air Spring Systems.
Up until recently, the app was only available in German and English. The NAFTA region has its own version in English and Spanish.
The web app from ContiTech enables smartphone users to determine suitable air springs for their use, anytime and anywhere. The app supplements the online catalog and the cross reference list with which customers can find the right ContiTech air spring using the vehicle manufacturer’s original part number or the competitor’s part number.
The app finds the right ContiTech air spring, or PHOENIX air spring as an alternative when the competitor’s designation or the OE part number is entered. In addition, users can access useful product information in a sub-menu, such as technical data and drawings based on the ContiTech online catalog.