NFPA Research Supplement Update: Efficient, Compact, and Smooth Variable Propulsion Motor

Eric Lanke headshot 2017

 

By Eric Lanke
NFPA President/CEO

I recently attended the October 2018 Summit of the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) at the University of Minnesota. This is one of the meetings this fiscal year where the fluid power research projects supported by our new NFPA Research Supplement Program were presented.

In our efforts to increase the number of university students educated in fluid power, the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation has provided ten $10,000 research supplements to ten academic faculty members working on fluid power research at six universities. This helps to engage current and build the careers of future university faculty who are and will be in a position to teach fluid power to undergraduate engineers on their campuses. The research supplements provide travel support so that each faculty member and one of their graduate students can attend to present their research at designated industry conferences and research summits like the one hosted by the CCEFP.

One such faculty member is Professor James Van de Ven of the University of Minnesota, whose graduate student, Grey Boyce-Erickson, presented on their project, “Efficient, Compact, and Smooth Variable Propulsion Motor,” at the CCEFP Summit. The goal here is to develop a variable displacement linkage motor (VDLM) for propulsion of off-highway vehicle with an efficiency higher than 90% above 15% displacement. Working with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Boyce-Erickson and his team, which includes researchers and students at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and industry partners Eaton and Bobcat, have been able to model the unique motor design and its various components and use it to explore several key questions:

  • Is fixed valve timing sufficient, or is variable valve timing necessary?
  • Which is preferred, cam or hydraulic driven valve actuation?
  • Which is preferred, spool or poppet valve?

They are also working on the motor’s cam design, which will be used to move the linkage as desired. A copy of Boyce-Erickson’s presentation slides can be accessed here.

Collectively, the research projects supported by NFPA Research Supplements represent more than $4.9 million in funding from a variety of organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP). They are an excellent sample of the growing body of fluid power research being funded by the federal government and other research organizations.

Recent Posts

All You Want to Know About AI and Its Applications for Your Organization

By Mike MarksIndian River Consulting Group Buzz, hype, mania — we’re surrounded by the topic of AI. The use of generative artificial intelligence tools has exploded since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. These tools range from writing to voice, art and video generators. Enterprising companies are creating tools to service industry niches with…

Read More about All You Want to Know About AI and Its Applications for Your Organization

NAM Regulatory Update: Manufacturer to Congress | Support the American Dream

As part of an effort to bring more information about the regulatory and legal environment facing American manufacturers, NFPA is monitoring the newsfeed of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and will be bringing important updates like this to the attention of NFPA members. As mentioned in this article, Husco is a long time NFPA…

Read More about NAM Regulatory Update: Manufacturer to Congress | Support the American Dream

NFPA Welcomes New Member: Firestone Airide

Firestone Airide, a division of Firestone Industrial Products headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, drives innovative technology designed to eliminate vibration in global transportation. Firestone has over 80 years of experience designing and manufacturing air springs and related products to eliminate vibration across the automotive, heavy-duty, and off-highway segments and will collaboratively integrate tire and air spring sensing technologies to create…

Read More about NFPA Welcomes New Member: Firestone Airide