Eaton Unveils Medium-Duty Procision Transmission
MARSHALL, Mich. — Eaton Corp. unveiled a new automated transmission for Classes 6-7 medium-duty trucks that company officials said will boost fuel economy 8% to 10% over torque-converter automatics.
The dual-clutch Procision debuted at Eaton’s proving grounds and test track Sept. 4. Reporters took drives in Classes 6 and 7 trucks around a track and up and down varying grades.
“Small businesses rely on their Class 6 and 7 trucks to deliver goods and perform tough jobs on a daily basis,” said John Beering, senior vice president and general manager for Eaton Commercial Vehicle Transmission.
The product is scheduled for release in July.
Eaton said it employed the dual-clutch technology for more efficient acceleration from a stopped position and to optimize shift points to move efficiently to the highest gear. Gear changes are made by swapping engine torque between clutches, with the next gear preselected.
“The closed-loop control system significantly reduces slip and steady state losses that are associated with torque converter automatic transmissions,” said Jeff Carpenter, engineering manager for Procision.
The product also could be “scalable up or down” to include Classes 4 and 8, Carpenter said at a press conference.
“Customers told us that they wanted features that made their trucks easier to drive,” Carpenter said. “So we engineered a host of features that instill confidence and maximize efficiency for operators with routes on hilly, difficult terrain, or those who navigate tight turns and traffic as part of an urban route.”
For additional coverage, see the Sept. 15 issue of Transport Topics.
