Cheaper motors offer higher efficiency

A range of motors could be made more efficiently – and more cheaply – thanks to a new magnetic material. Lou Reade reports Swedish researchers have designed a motor, which they claim would be twice as efficient – and half the cost – of existing devices. The innovation centres on a new type of magnetic material, coupled with production methods that slash the number of components and reduce the cost of assembly. The implications are far-reaching and could mean that any device that relies on motors – from a washing machine to a car – could be produced far more cheaply. The researchers, at Lund University’s Centre for Electro-Magnetic Conversion (Cemec), have spent 15 years creating ‘plastic bonded iron powder’ – in which metal particles are ‘suspended’ in a plastic material. This compound is used to produce motor components using a technique called ‘centrifugal moulding’. “The development started with injection moulding of low performance motors,” says Tord Cedell. “We found that new, alloyed powders with very well defined shape and grain structure would give high packing ratio and low losses. Experimenting with other techniques, we understood that a special form of rotational moulding [centrifugal moulding] gives superior properties and high production throughput.” The energy efficiency of conventional electrical actuators – including motors, inductors and transformers – can be boosted by incorporating a laminated core of soft magnetic iron sheets, he says. Cemec proposes to replace the laminated sheets with a single moulding of ‘soft magnetic composite’. As well as being more efficient, it would be made in just “a few” production steps rather than the 60 that it currently takes, says Cemec. The likely list of benefits from using this approach includes: reduced size and weight (as the actuator and driven object are integrated, minimising the need for gearboxes or flange couplings); reduced energy consumption (with fewer mechanical parts); and reduced cost (with modular design allowing for cost-effective automated production – so suitable for high labour cost economies). The Cemec team is already producing inductors, transformers and induction heating coils using the technique – but full-blown motors will take a little longer. “For mass production of motors and generators, it will be – depending on financing – at least one more year,” he says, noting that Cemec is currently seeking venture capital for this development. The technique is not aimed at high-performance motors such as servo motors, but could easily be used in products such as torus, claw-pole and transversal flux motors. “We see it being used in all sorts of motors and generators that work at high electrical frequencies,” says Cedell. He says that the new material – and the new design – will make high frequency losses negligible, give low permeability and have a high thermal conduction between coil and magnetic flux conductor material.” He points out that the material alone does not have a magic effect on a conventional motor design. “Just changing the material in a conventional design would result in a poor motor,” he says. Cemec also accepts that commercial examples of ‘SMC motors’ are already being used – such as a motor that supplies oil to an advanced braking system in a Japanese car. But it adds that these are low volume applications – and its aim is to make the motors in high volume. The work was funded with SEK 12 million (£1 million) over five years from Vinnova, the Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) and venture capital company Industri Kapital. A patent was issued in October. Research such as this is important to Sweden – and, by implication, other high economy countries. “[Researching this field] is strategically important for Sweden,” says the organisation. “[We rely] on innovative design, efficient production and high energy efficiency of products for industrial competitiveness.” Alloy makes motors more efficient Across the pond, researchers at the Iowa-based Ames Laboratory have developed a permanent magnet alloy that will retain its properties at high temperature. This should allow the production of electric drive motors that are more efficient and cost effective. Iver Anderson, Ames Lab senior metallurgist and Iowa State University adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, said that future 'ultragreen' vehicles such as fully electric cars, fuel-cell automobiles and plug-in hybrids will rely on this kind of technology. “They all have electric drive motors, so that’s a common theme,” he said. “It’s important that those motors be made economically with an operating envelope that fits how they will be driven. The automotive companies in this country have set out a series of parameters that they would like electric motors to meet.”One of these is the need for permanent-magnet electric motors to operate well at temperatures up to 200°C. “That raised a lot of eyebrows for people who know anything about magnets,” said Anderson. Most types of permanent magnet lose a lot of their magnetic energy at modest temperatures and operate at less than half their power by the time they reach 100-125°C. This new breed of magnets would operate with good magnetic strength at 200°C, thanks to an alloy that replaces pure neodymium with a mixed rare earth. The alloy exists as a fine powder which can be processed by injection moulding – which Anderson says will be crucial if it is to be adopted by the automotive industry and its need for high volumes. “Currently, each magnet making up the magnet array in an electric motor is glued in by hand,” says Anderson. “That’s fine for small runs of 50,000, but try doing that for the millions of cars with electric drive motors – one for the front and one for the back – that consumers will want to buy in the next 10 years. It’s not going to work.” The work is part of the US Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program, which aims to develop more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation technologies in order to cut the use of fossil fuels. http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/13687/Cheaper-motors-offer-higher-efficiency.aspx
Author Tom Shelley

Trucks keep rolling...for now

Despite a threatened strike by some independent truck drivers, many trucks were still on the road Tuesday. But for how much longer?

Several industry experts predict problems ahead finding drivers because of higher fuel costs.

Some independent truck drivers, known as owner-operators since they own their trucks, had talked about not working Tuesday to protest the rise in diesel prices.

And there were reports Tuesday of truckers on the New Jersey Turnpike snarling traffic by driving at only 20 miles per hour as a way to protest high gas prices.

But officials with the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association, which has about 160,000 members nationwide, as well as the Truckload Carriers Association, which represents trucking companies that use owner-operators, both said they had reports of only sporadic shutdowns by drivers.

"We've heard from a lot of members who have no intention of participating," said Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the OOIDA. "What's more important is what happens tomorrow and the next day and next week if diesel prices don't go down. More and more truckers will be faced with decision about what to do, whether or not to stay in the business."

Gary Salisbury, the chief operating officer of Fikes Truck Line in Hope, Ark., which has about 500 owner-operators driving flatbed trucks, said he's seeing more and more of his owner operators quitting the business because they can't afford to keep running. Many have been forced to try to find a job as a company driver so they don't have to worry about paying for fuel and repair costs.

"I don't have any of my drivers who are striking, but we lost 12 trucks yesterday," said Salisbury. "Guys who have a mechanical problem, if they go down, they don't have the cash reserves to fix it and keep rolling."

However, Matt Turner, an Akron trucker who operates a Web site calling for a shutdown, http://www.unitedcdl.org/, said he believes there are thousands of owner-operators who are participating in the shutdown.

"The unity we've got now is getting stronger because of the corner we're backed into," he said. "The impact of this shutdown, we may not see until the middle of the week. But we'll see it."

Turner has parked four trucks that he owns. He usually drives one and pays other drivers to drive the remaining three.

Chris Burruss, president of the Truckload Carriers Association said his members are hearing chatter about the protest, but none reported more than scattered problems.

But he also agrees fuel prices are causing problems for both independent drivers as well as trucking companies. He thinks the rise in diesel costs will cause many smaller trucking companies to go out of business.

"We've always had a high turnover of drivers, but the turnover we're seeing now to a certain degree is not about jumping from one company to another to another. It's the drivers getting out because they can't afford to operate any longer," Burruss said. To top of page
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/01/news/economy/trucking_protest/

HSS Hire Ireland becomes country’s biggest Kubota hirer

HSS Hire Ireland has taken delivery of 23 Kubota mini excavators, making them the largest hirer of the market-leading machines in Ireland, with a total Kubota fleet of 48.

The 1.7 tonne KX41-3V and 2.8 tonne KX71-3 models are available for hire through the company's nationwide network of 24 branches, plus six agency outlets.

Dublin-based HSS Hire Ireland is part of the HSS Hire Service Group, the UK's largest tool and equipment hire chain.

Towards the end of 2007, it opened its new Dublin Superstore, with a floor area of 22,955 sq ft, and launched a 26,500 sq ft Superstore in Belfast. The two new outlets will allow HSS to further increase its small plant offering to customers.

The cabbed mini excavators, supplied by Kubota distributor Whelan Plant Sales, of Ennis, Co. Clare, are fitted with a 'quick-hitch' coupler system that allows the operator to rapidly switch between attachments from inside the cab, and three different sized buckets.

They also feature Kubota's unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' security system - the first and still the only one of its kind fitted as standard equipment by a mini excavator manufacturer.

Michael Killeen, managing director of HSS Hire Ireland, said: "As a hire company an unreliable machine means a loss of revenue. In the fast moving construction industry in Ireland it's simply not an option for us to hire out machines that would cause delays on site for our customers and ultimately hold up the progress of a project. This has not been our experience with Kubota.

"The brand has an excellent name in the construction industry. Many of our customers specifically request a Kubota machine due to their high level of satisfaction with the first Kubota hired from us."

"It's a huge benefit for us to know that the Kubota machines we stock are a guaranteed source of hire revenue. Such is our confidence in the brand that we are now the biggest user of Kubota machines in Ireland."

He added that in their experience, Kubota machines are of superior quality, with second to none performance. "We are also receiving excellent dealer support from the supplier, Whelan Plant Sales."

George Whelan, owner of Whelan Plant Sales, said: "We have been selling Kubota machines for three years now and this latest sale to HSS Hire Ireland is our biggest yet. We are delighted to be a part of the company's rapid development and look forward to supplying more Kubota minis to them as they grow their business still further."

Kubota is the European and world leader in mini excavators and offers the widest range of machines available from a single manufacturer. Customers can select from 18 base models spanning the weight range from 850 kg to 8 tonnes and including the largest selection of increasingly popular zero tail swing machines.

With a legendary reputation for quality, performance, reliability, excellent resale values and first-class dealer support, their productivity and versatility make them the ideal tool for many different application and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire companies to owner operators.
http://www.hub-4.com/news/945/hss-hire-ireland-becomes-countrys-biggest-kubota-hirer

Heavy Duty Sewing Machines

Sewing machines are of different types, mechanical sewing machines, electronic sewing machines, home sewing machines, computerized sewing machines, and industrial or commercial sewing machines. Of the different types of sewing machines, heavy duty sewing machines are meant for a high production environment.

If you are working with heavy fabrics, then heavy duty sewing machines would be the right choice. Heavy duty sewing machines can perform all sewing tasks such as buttonhole, blind hem, monograms, quilting, as well as decorative sewing. Ideal for continuous applications, heavy duty sewing machines include additional equipments for doing heavy work.

Available in a wide range of models, these machines are well suited for stitching products such as bags, auto, luggage, boat and furniture upholstery, tarps, tents, awnings, outdoor clothing, covers, and much more.

Most heavy duty sewing machines offer stitching speeds up to 1000 plus stitches per minute. They are simple and easy to operate. Heavy duty sewing machines are designed to work with all type of fabrics ranging from lightweight fabrics such as chiffon and silk to heavyweight fabrics such as duck, denim, and canvas. Built-in needle threader, extension bed and free arm design are among the other characteristics of heavy duty sewing machines.

Singer, Euro-Pro, Janome, and Brother are some of the leading manufacturers of heavy duty sewing machines. While purchasing sewing machines, most of these companies offer accessories such as eight presser feet, bobbins, spool cap, assorted needles, twin needles, and much more. Singer 450083 Heavy Duty Professional Sewing Machine, Janome L 344 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, White model 4042, and Brother Sewing Machine PS33 are some manufacturers of heavy duty sewing machines.

Drive unit suits road roller wheels

Drive is delivered through a hydrostatic transmission system with two variable displacement axial piston motors installed horizontally along the machine's lengthwise axis.

Bonfiglioli has launched a new drive unit designed for driving road roller wheels. These robust units are specially shaped and sized for installation on roller-compactors that generally feature rear axles with four drive wheels and steering front axles with idle wheels. Only two units are needed to drive all four wheels on the rear axle, each unit powering two wheels.

Drive is delivered through a hydrostatic transmission system with two variable displacement axial piston motors installed horizontally along the machine's lengthwise axis at 90 degrees to the wheel axis, in a position where they are well protected but still easily accessible.

In design terms, the drive unit comprises two hubs, on which the two driven wheels are mounted.

Each hub contains a double-stage planetary gearbox.

Inside a central connecting housing a bevel gear pair provides initial reduction and receives drive from a hydraulic motor through a mechanical drive shaft.

The central casing also provides the fixing points for securing the unit to the machine.

The load bearing hubs are designed to withstand the particularly high loads that road rollers apply to their wheels.

A multi-plate hydraulic brake is mounted at the input to the drive unit to provide dynamic braking to stop the machine (assisted by the braking effect of the hydrostatic transmission and diesel engine), and static braking for parking.

Hydraulic fluid passes through the braking system and is cooled by the machine's on-board cooling system.

Heat generated by braking, and especially that generated by speed control and braking on long downhill slopes, is thus removed and dissipated.

Tyre pressure can be controlled and adjusted as required due to a pipe that passes through the rotational axis of the wheel hubs.

This pipe is connected to the machine's compressed air system via a rotary joint and feeds two compressed air drop lines to the two tyres.

The unit is fully enclosed and all internal components, including the drive shaft, are fully protected.

heavy machinery

Caterpillar PM-201 cold planer

The PM-201 is a high production half-lane milling machine that performs controlled depth removal of asphalt and concrete pavements for rehabilitation and maintenance of existing roadways.

• Powered by a Caterpillar C18 engine with ACERT Technology.

• Has two propel speeds, three rotor options, four mode steering and optional automatic grade and slope control.

• Drive tracks are 80.5 inches long, 14 inches wide and feature replaceable steel reinforced polyurethane track pads designed for long service life.
  

• All three rotors are 83 inches wide and have a maximum cutting depth of 12 inches.

• An LED display panel displays desired selections by the operator such as engine RPM, propel speed and direction selection and various other machine functions.

• Other options include hydraulically operated side plates, upper conveyor cover, an auxiliary rotor drive and a high pressure washdown system.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Caterpillar+PM-201+cold+planer-a0149266993