Decoupling Solutions for RWD and AWD

January 1, 2016

Ryan Gehm

Cutaway view of the NRG-disc cord-reinforced elastomer coupling. (Click arrow at top right of this image to view the tube-in-tube coupling.)

TrelleborgVibracoustic announces two new decoupling solutions for RWD and AWD vehicles that the company claims offer durability, weight, packaging, and tuning advantages. Decoupling elements in the driveline help attenuate noise and vibration by isolating torsional vibration occurring at the prop shaft. They also harmonize the torque ramp-up and compensate the axial displacement and cardanic angle. The NRG-disc (New Rubber Generation Disc) cord-reinforced elastomer coupling features specific cord packages for drive and overrun direction. The design uses different cord types, optimized winding processes, and rubber compounds, enabling any desired spring rate to be set in combination with special bushings to ensure axial force compensation. The coupling's design can be tuned to the customer's isolation and stiffness requirements without a change of geometrical dimensions. TrelleborgVibracoustic's tube-in-tube system replaces traditional flexible couplings and is suited for hybrid vehicles, particularly where installation space is tight. The system incorporates the functionality of a flexible coupling into a prop shaft with “virtually no additional packaging requirements,” the company claims. With specific design customizations, the tube-in-tube unit can also be used as a crash element, absorbing energy in a well-defined manner. Its special elastomer is suitable for use in extreme operating and ambient temperatures. The company is currently offering these solutions to its customers and could start production after validation, according to a spokesperson.