Pioneering transmission technology

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - French pilot and writer 1900-1944

Traditional systems

Common transmissions such as Automatics, DCT’s (Double Clutch Transmissions) and Manuals use gears to change the ratios in steps. This way, the engine runs in a region around its best efficiency. More gears make this region smaller, but more gears mean more shifting with severe efficiency and traction drops.

An alternative is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). These systems manage to keep the engine or E-motor on their best efficiency curve in more driving conditions. However, these CVTs use a belt or rollers instead of gears with much larger friction than gears and with slip, annihilating the positive effect of their continuous ratio variation.

MAZARO’s Reversible Variable Transmissions (RVT) and Single Stage Variable Transmissions (SVT)

MAZARO’s systems make drivelines more efficient and better performing as they combine and amplify the 2 advantages of the traditional systems:

1. They make the engine and E-Motor always run precisely on their best efficiency curves

This feature is realized by continuously variable ratios which have an exceptionally large spread.

Efficiency map by courtesy of Motor-CAD software www.motor-design.com

2. Unrivalled internal efficiency

The typical, patented curvature of the traction wheels inside MAZARO’s transmissions guarantees drill-free traction. Power is transmitted by wheels rolling over each other. The geometry of these wheels is made so that for all ratios they roll without geometrical slip. When the wheels roll over each other without transmitted power, none of the points in the whole contact area slips. When power is transmitted, every point in the contact is equally contributing to torque transmission.

Drilling motion or drill slip is a major problem of all other CVTs such as full and half toroidal, cone ring, belt-CVTs, extensively described in scientific papers … MAZARO is the only company that has developed a robust solution for elimination of drilling motion in all ratios and that, in an easily manufacturable construction.

The elimination of macro slip (drill slip) has major advantages:

Absence of macro slip meaning enhanced efficiency
No drill slip means that the whole contact area contributes to the traction, securing high power density. (In a toroidal system, part of the contact area supplies traction in the wrong direction, creating conflicting forces)
There is just a very small micro slip of only 0.2 to 0.3% (but no macro slip which is at least 10 times higher), keeping oil temperature low. This secures a thick oil film separating the traction wheels, guaranteeing the total absence of wear. Confirmed by extensive endurance tests.
The very low heat dissipation from microslip enables designs for the torque levels of buses, trucks and off-highway machines, unlike other CVTs

Innovative, high-efficiency hydraulics

MAZARO developed a robust and exceptionally efficient hydraulic control system. More details.
All transmissions work in 4 quadrants equally and with equal efficiency (driving, braking, both rotation directions).