The double clutch gearbox offers the automotive industry a future automatic transmission solution that provides a combination of comfort of use and reduced vehicle fuel consumption.
Valeo offers a double dry clutch developed using its manual gearbox experience. When coupled with electro-mechanical actuator technology, this concept offers significantly higher performance
The double dry clutch is designed to offer maximum comfort when shifting gears. This comfort is provided by ensuring controlled slipping of the plates in both clutches during gear changes. Valeo handles this harsh clutch use by offering an integrated clutch and actuator solution.
This solution couples technologies already tried and tested in series production, such as bonded rather than riveted linings, with specially-developed technologies ensuring double-clutch strength and reliability, such as travel adjustment integrated within the actuators.
Valeo Dry Double Clutch has two clutches and three clutch plates whose rotation is linked to the engine’s flywheel.
The clutch on the plate’s motor side engages both when starting and when shifting to odd gears.
The clutch on the plate’s gearbox side engages only when shifting to even gears and reverse. Each of the two parts alternately transmits torque to one of the two axial transmission input shafts.
The Valeo module is associated with energy-efficient electro-mechanical actuators, resulting in a reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of 6% to 10% compared to an automatic transmission with the same number of gears, and a reduction of 4% compared to a wet double clutch.
The electro-mechanical actuators also enable the sliding of the two clutch plates to be controlled in a precise, synchronized manner.
They include an assisting spring which reduces electrical consumption. Thanks to this feature, the Valeo module offers better performance than that of a traditional automatic transmission.
The smooth acceleration when changing gears, without torque interruption, offers improved comfort and performance compared to an automated manual transmission.
In addition, when stationary, the clutches are disengaged (actively closed by the command system), for enhanced safety.
The complete module, comprising dual dry clutch, vibration filtering system, controls and their command system, was entirely designed by Valeo teams.
It allows lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by combining the low drag of a dry clutch and the high efficiency of a manual gearbox technology. It improves driving comfort by eliminating torque interruption during gear shifting thanks to fast system response and efficient control strategies.
