New Technology for the Management and Distribution of Torque in Modern Automotive Drivetrains

Hydraulic, mechanical, and electro-magnetic technologies have been the primary means for torque management in today's drivetrains. Recent advances in electronic controls have provided even greater performance benefits for these base technologies. These facts coupled with an extended period of design and development for these drivetrain systems make the introduction of a new technology very challenging. However, recent developments at Borg Warner's Powertrain Technical Center have shown that a new technology, hydro-mechanical technology, may hold great promise in solving some of the fundamental problems and limitations of today's torque management technologies. This paper illustrates drivetrain applications where hydro-mechanical technology offers new and improved performance benefits for some of drivetrain's oldest problems. The opportunity to bring a new technology to the market in drivetrains also provides a new opportunity for powdered metallurgy (P/M) content in same. As a leader in P/M use in drivetrains, Borg Warner seeks to continue its commitment to P/M with this new drivetrain technology.