摘要: |
IF TECHNOLOGICALLY AND/OR ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, THE INTRODUCTION OF HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION COULD GREATLY IMPROVE BUSES WITH A STANDARD-TYPE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. IT WOULD RESULT IN THE LOWERING OF THE HEIGHT OF THE FLOOR, WHICH WOULD FACILITATE BOARDING, AND IN COUPLE CONTINUITY DURING MOVING, THUS IMPROVING THE COMFORT OF PASSENGERS NOT SUBJECTED ANYMORE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED BY GEAR CHANGES. IN A FIRST STAGE IT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE AN INVENTORY OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES AND TO COMPARE THEM, THEN TO DRAFT SPECIFICATIONS GOVERNING HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION FOR BUSES TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE PROBLEMS OF CONTROLLING THE THERMAL PROPULSION ENGINE AND ENERGY RECOVERY. THE SECOND STAGE WILL CONSIST IN ASKING FOR TENDERS FROM MANUFACTURERS WITH A VIEW TO BUILDING A TRANSMISSION PROTOTYPE WHICH WOULD BE TESTED ON A TEST RIG. IF THE RESULTS ARE SATISFACTORY, TESTS ON A REAL BUS WOULD BE CONDUCTED. SIMULTANEOUSLY FINAL INSTALLATION OF HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION COULD BE STUDIED TOGETHER WITH ITS COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION. |