New High Efficiency Drive System

[Armortek]

In line with Armorteks policy of continual improvement, we are very pleased to give you details of our latest development for the motion pack.

As an alternative to the standard main drive motors and gearbox currently supplied, we will now be offering our all new high efficiency drive system.

This new motor/gearbox combination offers the following features:

New flange mounted 'Armortek design' gearbox.
Common output shaft to existing design.
Uses Davall "Spiradrive" gear sets.
Grease lubricated for life
90% efficient power transmission.
30% longer battery life.
Increases battery charging from regeneration (Armortek speed control module only not 4QD)
Compact mechanical solution.
Smaller drive motor but with improved performance.
Very quiet long life design.


We have spent some time in researching and prototyping this new inovation and are confident that not only does this new design give the benefits above, but also gives us ongoing security of supply.

We should be in a position to start supplying this new option towards the end of February.

All models from the T34 onwards can accept the new system, older models will have the option of upgrading if desired. We will publish information of this in due course.

Of course you may wish to stay with the original system which will continue to be available for the time being.

For pricing please visit the shop for your location.

[William Gardeniers]

Hello Mark and Gill

do you have also some pictures off it

Regards William

[Armortek]

Hi William,

We do not have any photos at the moment as the new drive system is fitted into the T34. We will soon have an illustration of the system which we will post here shortly.

Gill

[leesellars]

Hello Gill

Have you got any dimensions of the new drive motor from shaft centre to back and motor diameter please.

Lee

[Armortek]

Here is an exploded view illustrating the construction of the new high efficiency gear box.

Spiradrive.jpg (74.74 KiB) Viewed 4215 times

[Ken Molchanow]

Gill:

When you get the time could you please explain how the ReGen circuit will work.

[Armortek]

Hi Ken

The regenerative braking was introduced with the module based Armortek Speed Controller, about a year ago. This is a digital speed controller and it works by sending pulses of power to the motor. In the gaps between the pulses, it sends the power generated by the motors back to the batteries to recharge them. The standard EMD gearbox is between 60 and 65% efficient, depending upon speed. Because of this about 30% of the battery power is lost when driving and when recharging. The new gearbox is 90 to 95% efficient. This means it both uses less power to drive, and recovers more power to regenerate.

Mark

[Paul Fairlamb]

Mark

A great upgrade and wonderfully clear exploded view.

I have explored the Davall website which shows the enormous range of their products - I'm sure there must be scope here to develop and build a single input/dual output tank gearbox with steering brakes.

How's the development work going on the Morris Quad and 25pdr??

Paul

[Robert E Morey]

Wow that new gear box is amazing! Hopefully the cost of the motion packs will not increase too much! Regenrative braking - sounds like a Toyota Prius! 60 miles per gallon, or in this case more hours of run time per charge?
Great improvements Mark and Gill,
Bob

[Adrian Harris]

Looks like the sort of continuous development we've come to expect

This may be too late for this particular increment but does this gearbox have the ability to disengage the motor That's always been one of the tricky things with tanks this heavy, moving them around when the drive system is discharged

Adrian.

[Armortek]

Hi Adrian

I did try to include this feature when designing the new gearbox. Unfortunately it was not possible to do, without incurring a substantial cost increase, and making something very complicated. The T34, which now has these gearboxes fitted, does seem to be much easier to push along, when dead, than it was before. I can only assume that this has to do with the increase in efficiency of the gearbox design.

Mark

[Scott Swartz]

Looks like a great set up! You mentioned that "older models will have the option of upgrading." I'd like to order one for my King Tiger, but it's not an option in the Online Shop.

[Armortek]

Thanks Scott,

We will be offering an upgrade for the older models, however these are not available as yet. Once they are we will post the details here and add them to the shop.

Gill

[Chang]

...." I'd like to order one for my King Tiger......

I would like to do so too.
Lerh Chang

[John Fitzsimons]

Is it just motors and gearbox that have changed? Are electronics as bebore?