For light commercial vehicles ranging from pick-up trucks to vans, Schaeffler has developed its TriFinity triple-row ball bearing. The TriFinity bearing is no larger than a standard double-row ball bearing but is able to transfer greater axle loads. This reduces vehicle power consumption and is a key benefit in inner city transportation operations.
While maintaining the correct tire pressure is fundamental to reducing truck fuel consumption and tire wear, manually adjusting the pressure for each trip and change in weather conditions is a time-consuming task that is often neglected. Schaeffler has now developed a wheel bearing with an integrated seal that helps adjust tire pressure to driving conditions on the fly – without any manual input from the driver.
Schaeffler has also developed a new, intelligent wheel bearing designed to bring digitalization to trucks and accelerate the development of automated driving. Incorporating smart sensors, this innovation enables remote monitoring of bearing and wheel condition. This new functionality will allow transport fleet operators to monitor the condition of vehicles on the road and receive early warnings of potential damage and breakdowns so that they can undertake preventive maintenance. The integrated sensors can also take measurements of wheel forces, braking forces, vibrations, and wheel hub temperatures, all in a fraction of a second.
