In loaders, ZF-Powertrain management provides the efficiency which is required under any working condition. Wheel loaders are amongst the most purchased and technically most demanding off-road vehicles.

ZF underlines its systems competence with the Efficiency Package which includes many benefits due to perfectly matched components. The field of application mainly comprises the important wheel loader, grader, diesel and gas lift truck market. The options of the Efficiency Package provide increased productivity and enhanced operating and driving comfort for the operator associated with a reduction of the operating and maintenance costs for the vehicle owner. Full utilisation of the Efficiency Package allows fuel savings of up to 15 per cent.

With the Efficiency Package, ZF offers more than the sum of individual advantages meeting the demands for:

• Enhanced comfort
• Increased productivity
• Less consumption
• Reduced component wear

ERGOPOWER
This proven and tested fully automatic powershift transmission system has been optimized for different construction machinery types and offers the innovative feature of five instead of four gears for wheel loader applications. Therefore, the noise-optimized transmission allows even more comfortable and easier handling, high shifting quality and flexibility. Moreover, the operating costs can be further reduced. The ZF ERGOPOWER provides additional possibilities for connecting an electronic driveline management, thus enabling vehicle-specific controls.

ZF DIRECT DRIVE with the ERGOLOCKUP ensures that at low speeds already the ERGOPOWER converter lock-up clutch is applied by modulation via the software. The optimum effect of this function is of particular benefit to transmissions with five gears, since in this case the converter lock-up clutch can be kept closed when shifting gears. Furthermore, the gear ratio steps are optimised for excellent driving comfort and improved efficiency in general. In applications for grader, this feature distinguishes itself with eight forward and four backward gears.

Advantage: Depending on the application conditions, the fuel consumption can be reduced by 10-15 per cent. This corresponds depending on operation conditions with a saving of approx 2.5 litre/hour. Considering an average annual performance of 2,000 operating hours and a fleet of 10 vehicles, this means 50,000 litre of fuel saving per year. In addition, a lower engine speed further reduces the noise emission and improves the lifetime.

ZF ERGOTRACTION
This feature for axle control offers a differential lock management which governs the inter-wheel differential locks in wheel loaders and the inter-axle differential locks in articulated dump trucks. The ERGOPOWER transmission control provides automatic engagement and disengagement of the powershift differentials. Previously, the differential locks were only engaged depending on the operator. Today, they are always engaged unless they would disturb the operation. No manual actuation is required. Advantages: This innovation protects the drive system components and the tyres while offering 100 per cent tractive effort. It also contributes to a significant fuel saving. Moreover, ERGOTRACTION improves the cross-country mobility and increases the performance. Vehicle handling is more comfortable and easy. Protection against abuse is also guaranteed.

ZF POWERINCH - Intelligent clutch cut-off function
The ICCO dynamically adjusts the clutch cut-off point depending on transmission output torque and brake pressure. It enables the vehicle draw bar pull via the brake pedal, independent of engine speed. The ICCO is an advanced driveline management feature to improve loader application such as truck loading and tight corner operation by limiting vehicle tractive effort in hydraulic stall conditions to the minimum required to hold the vehicle and not to the maximum available.

Reduced fuel consumption:

• Reduced power loss in the torque converter
• Reduced energy dissipation in the axle service brake

Improved productivity:

• Provides more power to the vehicle hydraulics
• Ensures smooth control at high engine rpm and low vehicle speed Allows better handling of the vehicle

Article courtesy: ZF