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At Penza State University, scientists have developed a design and assembled a stand for testing mechanical and variable transmissions of cars. This is the first test stand in Russia for a continuously variable transmission. The invention has been patented and is ready for implementation at automobile plants. The innovation will significantly reduce costs of testing gearboxes. It will be possible to test Russian and foreign cars (Renault (Kaptur, Medape, Fluence), Nissan (Tiida, Juke, Qashqai), Lada (Vesta and Aura).
The PSU research team consisting of Aleksandra Generalova, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Artyom Nikulin, PSU graduate student, Aleksandr Zverovshchikov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, head of the Department of Technologies and Equipment of Mechanical Engineering of PSU, carry out complex work to test and introduce variator gearboxes in Russia.
In 2019, the researchers were among the first to invent and receive a patent in Russia for a continuously variable transmission with an increased range of gear ratios. It should be noted that our country has not solved this issue before. After that, the scientists continued to improve the work they had begun and in 2021 and patented a method that could enhance the operation of the engine by modernizing the gearbox. PSU proposed to modernize the transmission element for driving vehicles, namely the pulley. A pulley is a wheel on an axle or shaft designed to support movement and change the direction of a stretched cable or belt, and to transfer power between the shaft and the cable or belt. It is thanks to the pulley (traction and driven) that the gears are switched from low to high and vice versa.
Associate Professor Aleksandra Generalova explained that the variator gearbox is different from the classic automatic transmission. This is a continuously variable transmission, which includes a variator; a unit that disconnects the engine from the variator; a control system; and a reverse gear mechanism.
Due to the fact that practically no one was engaged in the development of variator gearboxes in our country at that time, the owners of such cars faced a number of problems: the purchase and repair of spare parts, and a small number of service shops capable of carrying out repairs.
The test stand for variators consists of a frame with a traction motor, a load motor connected to the output shaft of the variator, and a control unit. The variator is equipped with electronic devices for recording temperature, pressure and oil level.
The stand created at PSU surpasses all existing analogues, so you can test both manual and automatic transmission. Scientists have developed a mounting bracket suitable for various gearboxes.
The tests are standardized, and they meet the GOST of the Russian Federation. Gearboxes are tested at idle and under load. The efficiency of the gearbox with a standard pulley turned out to be 8% higher than in similar devices.
The scientists plan to establish cooperation with the Russian automotive company AvtoVAZ. This year, the company announced the production of a new Aura sedan. Lada Aura is equipped with a 122-horsepower 1.8-liter engine and an automatic transmission. Innovations of Penza scientists will be useful for AvtoVAZ. According to Aleksandra Generalova, it will be possible to work on improving the gearbox and testing it.
The stand will save several tens of thousands of rubles to automobile factories, and will also allow testing at any convenient time. PSU continues to carry out comprehensive work on the invention and introduction of variator gearboxes into the Russian automotive industry.
Photo provided by the PSU Press Center.