ZF Technology in
Buses and Coaches
Safe and Comfortable on the Road
People who place their trust in buses and coaches have a right to expect maximum safety and comfort. To achieve this, the driveline, chassis and steering systems must be of the highest quality and perfectly matched for compatibility. This is what makes buses and coaches one of the safest and most comfortable means of transport. ZF sets standards in this field.
EcoLife
Changed requirements in public transport, growing competition, and rising fuel prices continually require new ways of thinking in the field of bus driveline technology. More and more people are to be transported in increasingly shorter times. City buses become larger, vehicle combination weights higher, engines more powerful. The suitable ZF automatic transmission: EcoLife. The 6-speed transmission can transfer torques of up to 2,000 newton meters and resists also operating temperatures of modern Euro 5 engines or future engine generations.
Ecomat
It is the job of the city bus driver to make the trip fast and yet comfortable. On the one hand, ZF transmissions and driveline components provide for dynamic acceleration, smooth gearshifts, and very quiet running. On the other hand, with their high reliability and ease of operation, the driver can completely focus on the road. The Ecomat 6-speed automatic transmission is a good example. As a supplement to low-floor technology it is also ideally suitable for "Bus Rapid Transit" systems.
AS Tronic in coaches
“Reclining seats, air conditioning, AS Tronic.” This is how a bus company describes the carefree trips on its buses. A transmission playing a role in comfort? As a special option? You bet. From the very beginning, when drawing up the technical specifi cations for the AS Tronic, passenger comfort was taken into consideration. Clutch operation and shifting happen smoothly and automatically. This contributes both to increasing passengers‘ well-being and to relieving the bus driver. Furthermore, AS Tronic provides a choice for the bus driver – by pushing one button he can switch from the automatic to the manual mode and vice versa at any time.
Synchro transmissions
Maximum control comfort for the driver, high traveling comfort for passengers - these are the highlights of the 6-speed synchromesh transmission by ZF. With direct drive or overdrive transmission ratio, they can handle all kinds of route requirements. The compact, manual synchromesh transmissions have favorable installation dimensions and do not add unnecessary weight thanks to their light metal alloy housings.
TopoDyn Life
TopoDyn makes the program selection for manufacturers and operators. Depending on the terrain, it flexibly changes the shift strategies Normal, Eco, and Power - in the case of Ecomat this happens according to defined, preset values, in the case of EcoLife this is done continuously, variably, and thus even more efficiently. Therefore, the bus is operated most fuelefficiently at any time and at any section of the route. Fuel savings: five to eight percent.
Clutch kits for commercial vehicles
High quality clutches are essential for commercial vehicles. As the market leader, we have the optimum solution for any commercial vehicle, urban motor bus, tractor and special vehicle. Our product range includes singe plate clutches, twin plate clutches, double plate clutches, dual mass flywheel (DMF) and concentric slave cylinders.
The superb transmission of power from the engine to the road is typical of SACHS The power of the vehicle is used to the full. And this improves safety, too. Because with SACHS, you really don't need to worry about your clutch for several 100.000 miles. Over 170 million clutches demonstrate SACHS outstanding technical competence and efficiency in this area.
Dual mass flywheels
The SACHS planetary dual mass flywheel (DMF) is the key to first-class passenger car and commercial vehicle drivability. The driver and occupants are aware of reduced driveline and body noise and enjoy smoother travel with more pleasant gear shifts. The use of advanced and multi-functional components now enables the Sachs dual mass flywheel to be installed also in lower midsize category cars.
Power steering racks & pumps
Rack and pinion power steering with variable ratios is used in many applications. It is as equally suitable for mid-size sedans and light commercial vehicles as it is for sports cars. It enables precise and rapid steering responses at higher speeds without excessive or jittery over-reaction to minor steering adjustments. It optimizes the handling of the vehicle when manoeuvring it in or out of a parking space, when turning around in tight spaces or during extreme cornering. Depending on the manufacturer’s specifications, the rack and pinion power steering may also be fitted with a number of equipment options. At the OEM level, this allows the steering to be adapted in an optimum way to the kinematic and motorization conditions present on the vehicle.
Shock absorbers
With respect to safety, shock absorbers have the job of preventing the wheels from „hopping“ on uneven surfaces and thus being unable to transmit braking, traction, or lateral forces when they temporarily loose contact with the road. Suspension comfort suffers when chassis movements caused by driving over uneven surfaces, changing directions, braking, and accelerating are transmitted "unfiltered", so to speak, to the passengers. Shock absorbers substantially reduce this effect and thus contribute substantially to passenger comfort. Moreover, hopping wheels and strong chassis vibrations due to improperly functioning shock absorbers lead to increased wear on the tires and chassis components.
Suspension components
Steering and suspension components are safety parts which are designed, made and assembled with particular care. They must provide an ultimate level of safety in all driving situations which can occur either influenced by the driver or not. The status "D-part" (safety component) requires an extensive array of different tests to be documented in detail.
Rubber-to-metal components
Rubber-to-metal components are indispensable construction elements, which not only directly influence driving performance, but also take over other functions. Gearbox and engine bearings connect the transmission and the engine to the chassis. At the same time, they dampen vibrations and eliminate noises such as bucking, engine sounds, reactions to load change, car body drum and transmission noises.
