With the 8HP transmission generation, ZF established a model range on the market offering considerable progress in terms of fuel savings, power-to-weight ratio, and functionality. A front-transverse transmission derived from the 8HP transmission generation gear set concept leads to higher design costs and to an unfavorable design, contradicting the very restricted installation spaces for front-transverse transmissions.
With the transmission concept of the 9HP48 transmission, the advantages of the 8HP transmission generation were successfully transferred to a front-transverse transmission design and, at the same time, all restrictions regarding the installation space were solved. Thanks to its number of gears the high efficiency and the reduced drag torque, the 9HP48 transmission delivers fuel savings of up to 16 percent compared with today's standard 6-speed automatic transmissions with front-transverse installation.
The publication gives a detailed description of the mechanical design of the 9HP48 transmission. By means of a new gear set concept with 4 planetary gear sets and 6 shift elements, the requirements regarding high efficiency and a large total spread that are important for achieving fuel savings and comfort can be realized at low gear steps. For the first time, two positive locking dog clutch shift elements are applied alongside an axially parallel vane cell pump to reduce the drag torques. In order to achieve compatibility between the transmission's design and the installation spaces of typical front-transverse vehicles, a completely new transmission architecture is used. In addition to the new architecture, the achievement of installation targets is facilitated by two dog clutches, two planetary gear sets nested on top of each other, and multi-disk clutches, as well as a new torque converter design.
In addition, the 9HP48 transmission is designed according to a modular principle. As a result, the basic transmission can be supplemented depending on the requirements and customer wishes. Thus, different starting elements and all-wheel drive applications can also be implemented at optimal cost in the restricted installation space conditions of front-transverse passenger cars.
