Ricardo Presents a New mDCT Concept

Ricardo plans to showcase a variety of tech specifications and exhibit items within the framework of the CTI Symposium America – including a brand-new, reliable and cost-effective manual dual clutch transmission concept (mDCT) intended for enhancing operating capacity in the fast-growing Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) market, by providing competition to CVT solutions widely applied in this type of vehicles.

Picture from CTI Symposium USA 2019 in Novi, Michigan

Thanks to the expanded use of UTVs – from military to extractive industry, from agriculture to numerous leisure activities – this market has never been more flourishing. CVT transmissions, frequently used in UTVs, are not notable for high reliability under severe operating conditions, thus they can be sensitive to overheating and even belt breaks.

Get some insights into trends discussed at CTI Symposium USA

With the purpose to offer a more efficient solution, Ricardo has designed a budget-friendly and simple in construction 3-speed mDCT concept that provides more enhanced operating capacity and reliability in comparison with CVTs. The mDCT concept is assessed to have a 12% efficiency increase over an existing CVT with the extra high/low gearbox, while integrating launching capabilities into a hermetically sealed unit that can cover the whole operating envelope.

Learn more about driveline and transmission solutions provided by Ricardo

The technical documentation to be presented by Ricardo at CTI exhibition will give visitors more insight into the mDCT design peculiarities, its elements and functioning peculiarities, as well as modeling and testing. Ricardo also plans to share with the public 2 documents related to the innovative products previously presented at the end of last year. The 1-st document will shed light on the development of a 6-phase, frameless, PM motor and its oil-cooled inverter with low thermal resistance.

The 2-nd document mainly refers to the design peculiarities of a new high-capacity DCT solution with east-west arrangement, the construction of which has been based on the company’s expertise in the development of transmission solutions for supercars. The unit’s dual clutch stays in alignment with the engine, while the 2 outputs drive high-speed conical gear sets respectively distributing torque to all gear sets. According to specifications, this DCT concept is significantly smaller in dimensions than its reference products; it does also provide improved weight distribution, decreased polar moment of inertia, and increased integration capacity of an electric motor in hybrid powertrains.