Nowadays the needs to fulfill severe emission standards and to reduce the mobile machine operative costs have driven the off-highway industrial research towards new solutions able to increase the overall vehicle efficiency. Within this scenario, smart power split transmissions demonstrated to be a very attractive technology able to achieve the fuel consumption reduction targets, increasing the machine working cycle productivity. Compared to the standard technologies (such as Torque Converters - TC), the power split hydromechanical varible transmissin (HVT), designed and developed by Dana Rexroth Transmission Systems S.r.l. (DRTS), is able to fully decouple the engine to wheel behavior during the machine working cycle, with an higher efficiency than a pure hydrostatic transmission. Due to this fundamental characteristic, the HVT allows the engine to work next to the maximum efficiency point, consequently it is possible to downsize the engine to further increase the fuel saving. The analysis of the field test performed by an off-highway vehicle (Kalmar Cargotec DRG Gloria 450 reachstacker) equipped with a DRTS HVT has been shown along this paper; particular attention has been given to the cycle load spectra, the fuel consumption and the working cycle productivity through a comparison with standard TC technologies.

Nowadays the needs to fulfill severe emission standards and to reduce the mobile machine operative costs have driven the off-highway industrial research towards new solutions able to increase the overall vehicle efficiency. Within this scenario, smart power split transmissions demonstrated to be a very attractive technology able to achieve the fuel consumption reduction targets, increasing the machine working cycle productivity. Compared to the standard technologies (such as Torque Converters - TC), the power split hydromechanical varible transmissin (HVT), designed and developed by Dana Rexroth Transmission Systems S.r.l. (DRTS), is able to fully decouple the engine to wheel behavior during the machine working cycle, with an higher efficiency than a pure hydrostatic transmission. Due to this fundamental characteristic, the HVT allows the engine to work next to the maximum efficiency point, consequently it is possible to downsize the engine to further increase the fuel saving. The analysis of the field test performed by an off-highway vehicle (Kalmar Cargotec DRG Gloria 450 reachstacker) equipped with a DRTS HVT has been shown along this paper; particular attention has been given to the cycle load spectra, the fuel consumption and the working cycle productivity through a comparison with standard TC technologies.

Hydraulic systems represent a crucial part of the drivetrain of mobile machines. The most important drivers of current developments, increasing energy efficiency and productivity, are leading to certain trends in technology. On a subsystem level, working hydraulics are utilizing effects by improving control functions and by maximum usage of energy recovery potential. Independent metering and displacement control, partly in combination with hybrid concepts, are the dominating approaches. Traction drives gain advantage from optimized power split transmissions, which consequently are being used in a growing number of applications. On the level of components, increase of efficiency and dynamics as well as power density are important trends. Altogether, design of systems and components is more and more based on modular concepts. In this sense, among others, sensors and control elements are being integrated to actuators; electric and hydraulic technology is being merged. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and performance of the entire machine, control of hydraulics has to include the whole drivetrain and the entire mobile machine in its application. In modern words, mobile hydraulic systems are a part of cyber physical systems.

Offshore oil production presents major challenges due to extreme environmental conditions. With present state of the art robotics, precision mechanics and automation it is now possible to provide solutions to those working conditions. The present work is part of a solution to the problem of the unblocking a subsea oil pipeline of small diameter and extensive length by designing and manufacturing a robot capable of moving inside the pipeline. Based on the previous study of an interdisciplinary group, the implementation of an umbilical cable was defined with the purpose of assuring the supply of electrical power for the robot’s energy requirements, control signals and a mechanical link to avoid the possibility of getting stuck. Similarly, the robot's movement strategy was defined based on a high reliability mechanism, capable of overcoming the great tension resulting from the interaction of the long umbilical cable with the inside of the pipe. In this work, the mechanical design is performed to implement a robot capable of overcoming big cable tensions with small components, integrating commercial components and others custom made. A solution was implemented to convert the electric power received through the cable to the mechanical power in the form required by the displacement mechanism. For this, a detailed engineering design is presented that integrates a high performance electric motor, a two-stage planetary gear transmission for high reduction ratio, a power split transmission driven by disc clutches and a mechanical power distribution stage required by the mechanism responsible for the displacement. / La producción de petróleo offshore presenta grandes desafíos por las condiciones en que se lleva a cabo, actualmente es posible darle solución con la ayuda de la robótica, la mecánica de precisión y la automatización. El presente trabajo es parte de una solución al problema de la desobstrucción en una tubería de petróleo submarina de pequeño diámetro y largo tendido mediante el diseño y la construcción de un robot capaz de trasladarse por el interior de la misma. En base al estudio previo de un grupo interdisciplinario se definió la implementación de un cable umbilical con el propósito de asegurar el suministro de potencia eléctrica para los requerimientos de energía de robot, el enlace de señales destinadas al control y un vínculo mecánico para proveer seguridad ante un eventual desperfecto. Similarmente se definió la estrategia de movimiento del robot en base a un mecanismo de alta confiabilidad, capaz de vencer una gran tensión producto de la interacción del largo cable umbilical con el interior de la tubería. En este trabajo se realiza el diseño mecánico para implementar un robot capaz de realizar grandes esfuerzos con componentes de tamaño reducido, integrando componentes comerciales y otros hechos a medida. Para ello, se implementó una solución para convertir la potencia eléctrica recibida a través del cable a la potencia mecánica en la forma requerida por el mecanismo que da lugar al movimiento. Para dicha solución se presenta un diseño detallado que integra un motor eléctrico de alto desempeño, una transmisión planetaria reductora de dos etapas, una transmisión inversora accionada por embragues de discos y una etapa de distribución de potencia mecánica requerida por el mecanismo responsable del movimiento.

Offshore oil production presents major challenges due to extreme environmental conditions. With present state of the art robotics, precision mechanics and automation it is now possible to provide solutions to those working conditions. The present work is part of a solution to the problem of the unblocking a subsea oil pipeline of small diameter and extensive length by designing and manufacturing a robot capable of moving inside the pipeline. Based on the previous study of an interdisciplinary group, the implementation of an umbilical cable was defined with the purpose of assuring the supply of electrical power for the robot’s energy requirements, control signals and a mechanical link to avoid the possibility of getting stuck. Similarly, the robot's movement strategy was defined based on a high reliability mechanism, capable of overcoming the great tension resulting from the interaction of the long umbilical cable with the inside of the pipe. In this work, the mechanical design is performed to implement a robot capable of overcoming big cable tensions with small components, integrating commercial components and others custom made. A solution was implemented to convert the electric power received through the cable to the mechanical power in the form required by the displacement mechanism. For this, a detailed engineering design is presented that integrates a high performance electric motor, a two-stage planetary gear transmission for high reduction ratio, a power split transmission driven by disc clutches and a mechanical power distribution stage required by the mechanism responsible for the displacement. / La producción de petróleo offshore presenta grandes desafíos por las condiciones en que se lleva a cabo, actualmente es posible darle solución con la ayuda de la robótica, la mecánica de precisión y la automatización. El presente trabajo es parte de una solución al problema de la desobstrucción en una tubería de petróleo submarina de pequeño diámetro y largo tendido mediante el diseño y la construcción de un robot capaz de trasladarse por el interior de la misma. En base al estudio previo de un grupo interdisciplinario se definió la implementación de un cable umbilical con el propósito de asegurar el suministro de potencia eléctrica para los requerimientos de energía de robot, el enlace de señales destinadas al control y un vínculo mecánico para proveer seguridad ante un eventual desperfecto. Similarmente se definió la estrategia de movimiento del robot en base a un mecanismo de alta confiabilidad, capaz de vencer una gran tensión producto de la interacción del largo cable umbilical con el interior de la tubería. En este trabajo se realiza el diseño mecánico para implementar un robot capaz de realizar grandes esfuerzos con componentes de tamaño reducido, integrando componentes comerciales y otros hechos a medida. Para ello, se implementó una solución para convertir la potencia eléctrica recibida a través del cable a la potencia mecánica en la forma requerida por el mecanismo que da lugar al movimiento. Para dicha solución se presenta un diseño detallado que integra un motor eléctrico de alto desempeño, una transmisión planetaria reductora de dos etapas, una transmisión inversora accionada por embragues de discos y una etapa de distribución de potencia mecánica requerida por el mecanismo responsable del movimiento.

Offshore oil production presents major challenges due to extreme environmental conditions. With present state of the art robotics, precision mechanics and automation it is now possible to provide solutions to those working conditions. The present work is part of a solution to the problem of the unblocking a subsea oil pipeline of small diameter and extensive length by designing and manufacturing a robot capable of moving inside the pipeline. Based on the previous study of an interdisciplinary group, the implementation of an umbilical cable was defined with the purpose of assuring the supply of electrical power for the robot’s energy requirements, control signals and a mechanical link to avoid the possibility of getting stuck. Similarly, the robot's movement strategy was defined based on a high reliability mechanism, capable of overcoming the great tension resulting from the interaction of the long umbilical cable with the inside of the pipe. In this work, the mechanical design is performed to implement a robot capable of overcoming big cable tensions with small components, integrating commercial components and others custom made. A solution was implemented to convert the electric power received through the cable to the mechanical power in the form required by the displacement mechanism. For this, a detailed engineering design is presented that integrates a high performance electric motor, a two-stage planetary gear transmission for high reduction ratio, a power split transmission driven by disc clutches and a mechanical power distribution stage required by the mechanism responsible for the displacement. / La producción de petróleo offshore presenta grandes desafíos por las condiciones en que se lleva a cabo, actualmente es posible darle solución con la ayuda de la robótica, la mecánica de precisión y la automatización. El presente trabajo es parte de una solución al problema de la desobstrucción en una tubería de petróleo submarina de pequeño diámetro y largo tendido mediante el diseño y la construcción de un robot capaz de trasladarse por el interior de la misma. En base al estudio previo de un grupo interdisciplinario se definió la implementación de un cable umbilical con el propósito de asegurar el suministro de potencia eléctrica para los requerimientos de energía de robot, el enlace de señales destinadas al control y un vínculo mecánico para proveer seguridad ante un eventual desperfecto. Similarmente se definió la estrategia de movimiento del robot en base a un mecanismo de alta confiabilidad, capaz de vencer una gran tensión producto de la interacción del largo cable umbilical con el interior de la tubería. En este trabajo se realiza el diseño mecánico para implementar un robot capaz de realizar grandes esfuerzos con componentes de tamaño reducido, integrando componentes comerciales y otros hechos a medida. Para ello, se implementó una solución para convertir la potencia eléctrica recibida a través del cable a la potencia mecánica en la forma requerida por el mecanismo que da lugar al movimiento. Para dicha solución se presenta un diseño detallado que integra un motor eléctrico de alto desempeño, una transmisión planetaria reductora de dos etapas, una transmisión inversora accionada por embragues de discos y una etapa de distribución de potencia mecánica requerida por el mecanismo responsable del movimiento.

Hydraulic systems represent a crucial part of the drivetrain of mobile machines. The most important drivers of current developments, increasing energy efficiency and productivity, are leading to certain trends in technology. On a subsystem level, working hydraulics are utilizing effects by improving control functions and by maximum usage of energy recovery potential. Independent metering and displacement control, partly in combination with hybrid concepts, are the dominating approaches. Traction drives gain advantage from optimized power split transmissions, which consequently are being used in a growing number of applications. On the level of components, increase of efficiency and dynamics as well as power density are important trends. Altogether, design of systems and components is more and more based on modular concepts. In this sense, among others, sensors and control elements are being integrated to actuators; electric and hydraulic technology is being merged. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and performance of the entire machine, control of hydraulics has to include the whole drivetrain and the entire mobile machine in its application. In modern words, mobile hydraulic systems are a part of cyber physical systems.