PRODUCTS & SERVICES
FPW AXLES
133
Advanced, zero-emission axles
BY USING SEALED, OIL-IMMERSED BALL RAMP ACTUATED BRAKING, A NEW GENERATION
OF ADVANCED AXLES IS ENSURING THAT HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES CAN BE TRULY
EMISSION FREE, WITHOUT COMPROMISING COMFORT, SAFETY OR PERFORMANCE
FREE READER INQUIRY SERVICE
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iVTInternational.com September 2019
The EZ axle, from FPW Axles, was born from
a real-life problem within the ground-support
equipment (GSE) market, which has a very stringent
specifications that many others in the industry are not
able meet safely. The EZ axle is a prime example of FPW’s
approach to designing and manufacturing axles to fit a
vehicle’s design.
The packaging and design of components on the EZ
Axle are so forward thinking and unusual that it
generated the need for a patent, which FPW was
granted. One of the challenges for the design was to
take into account the rules now governing the GSE
world that vehicles need to be as close to carbon free as
possible and produce zero emissions.
FPW met these demands by incorporating the latest in
braking technologies from one of the industry leaders,
Knott. The braking system is an oil-immersed ball ramp
actuated braking system and is a complete
sealed unit. The system not only ensures that
no emissions escape, but also that debris
cannot enter the brake. In addition, it is 100%
maintenance free.
Tackling challenges
Using an oil immersed braking system generated
its own set of problems. Positioning of the actuator was
not easy given the axle also needed to have the
maximum back lock as possible. Ensuring the benefits of
tight turning circles remain, the EZ’s clever design uses
the actuator from the braking system as part of the
swivel pin assembly. This design reduces clash points
and allows the axle to achieve 70° back lock once the
6.00 R9 wheel is fitted.
Since the early days, FPW has helped its customers
achieve the best possible driver comfort while never
jeopardizing stability and this was also a key target
during the design of the EZ Axle. To offer comfort, it was
important to integrate a coil and damper suspension
and, to provide stability, the coil would need to be as
close to the center of the wheel as possible. FPW cleverly
wraps the coil around the brake’s actuator and this
means that the coil is only 150mm from the center
of the tire.
It is generally assumed that, when considering all the
above, the axle load would be compromised. However,
from the years of experience carried in FPW, this is not
the case. The business spent many hours running FEA
ABOVE: The EZ Axle’s
clever design means
clash points are
drastically reduced
RIGHT: To maximize
comfort, the coil of the
axle needs to be as close
to the wheel as possible
analysis and dynamometer testing on the braking. This
work paid off as the EZ axle can take an axle load
of up to 3.3 tons, with the possibility for far more.
Scott Taylor, sales director at FPW Axles, said, “We are
very excited by the potential of our new EZ range and
are already exploring how the idea could be enhanced
further. This could be by either scaling up for heavier
vehicles or marrying up with our other recent
developments such as independent suspension,
electric steering and electric powered drive.”
FPW Axles UK has been supplying the special
purpose vehicle (SPV) market with axles and gearboxes
since the early
1980s. FPW has
continued with its
approach that
an axle should
fit the vehicle and
not the other way
around.
The company’s
design expertise has
been invaluable and
has been at the
forefront of electric vehicle axles prior to the modern
boom. It strives to continue to make the impossible
possible with its unique and exciting approach to
packaging of axle components.
FPW Axles will be exhibiting at InterAirport Europe
2019. Visit the company on stand 186, hall B6. iVT
By Andrew Dearden Bsc (hons) Eng, technical sales
manager at FPW Axles
/pivt
/iVTInternational.com
