Rigorous lightweight construction

For harvesting and sowing machines in particular, lightweight construction is becoming increasingly important. Lower vehicle weight is important, for example, for field operations in order to reduce the pressure on the soil and thus to minimize soil compaction. The weight is also relevant when it comes to approval for road use, especially for large machines. In addition, greater payloads are possible if the weight of the machine itself is reduced. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Conti Excelsus, for instance, delivers a significant weight advantage over the PTFE pipes enclosed in a stainless-steel braid used up till now. Polyamide cooling water lines also contribute to weight savings. In addition, they enable assembly-friendly processes with tight bending radii.

Continental has also developed lightweight engine mount prototypes made of glass-fiber-reinforced polyamide. The prototype bracket for a tractor engine mount is 40 percent lighter than the original steel component.

Continental has developed a prototype bracket for a tractor engine mount as a lightweight alternative. It is around 40 percent lighter than the original steel component.

Near-engine catalytic converters: innovative folding technology enables space-saving designs

Near-engine catalytic converters heat up faster than those installed further from the engine. In addition, they can also often be produced at lower cost since they have a smaller volume and need correspondingly less precious metal. Despite the smaller volume, however, vehicle manufacturers still find themselves faced with the problem of the tight package space around the engine. In response to that, the non-circular or even asymmetrically shaped catalytic converters developed by Continental help make optimal use of the space between the engine block and various adjacent ancillary components.

The introduction of an innovative folding technology enables Continental to fold the metal foils onto each other inside the catalytic converter – instead of winding them as hitherto – such that completely new shapes can be produced, e.g. a kidney shape. Especially in applications in the off-highway sector, in which small numbers of an engine family are fitted in each of various vehicles, such as tractors and front loaders, an optimized, uniform catalytic converter design enables the vehicle manufacturers to save costs.

An innovative folding technology enables completely new shapes inside the catalytic converter.

For extreme conditions

In the Unipower Tough Grip, Continental has a multi V-belt with a fabric cover in its range for off-highway applications. It reliably drives ancillary components in agricultural machine engines, such as alternators, fans, air-conditioning systems or hydraulic pumps. The particular feature of the belt is that it has a very low coefficient of friction that it owes to its underside. This is coated with a highly abrasion-resistant special fabric that is extremely stable under dynamic conditions. At peak loads, therefore, the belt can slip briefly. That ensures a reliable drive. The fabric cover protects the belt against wear even in dusty and sandy environments in the field. The belt is already being successfully used as original equipment in engines by some manufacturers.

In the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, the Unipower Tough Grip has already proved itself in cars and trucks. The belt's fabric-reinforced underside ensures low wear, optimal grip and the smoothest possible running even under conditions such as cold start, dampness or misaligned pulleys. Continental manufactures the belt in a special, solvent-free process.

The Unipower Tough Grip has a very low coefficient of friction which it owes to its underside. This is coated with a highly abrasion-resistant special fabric that is extremely stable under dynamic conditions.

Greater operational safety

Fuel lines with an electrically conductive inner lining have been fitted as standard in passenger cars for some time. Now this application – not least because of relevant requirements in the US in particular – is also becoming increasingly attractive for industrial trucks. The conductive inner lining made of FPM (fluorocarbon rubber) prevents static buildup at high throughflow rates which, in the worst-case scenario, could result in sparking and spontaneous ignition of the vehicle. Continental's highly flexible fuel lines are suitable for gasoline, diesel and biodiesel and can withstand continuous operating temperatures from -40 to 160°C. In addition, Continental also has a conductive polyamide solution available for this application.

ContiTech's electrically conductive fuel hose prevents static buildup at high throughflow rates.

Apart from flexible and dimensionally stable oil lines, Continental also has the Conti Excelsus externally reinforced hose in its range for high temperatures in agricultural machines. This feeds cooling water and lubricant to turbochargers and is used in their control systems, too It is also suitable for transporting air, for instance in exhaust systems, or as a fuel return line. Its special braid made of highly temperature- and chemical-resistant synthetic fabric makes the hose extremely flexible and enables it to be used in particularly tight, complex package spaces.Extremely flexible and, if required, also kink-resistant: the lightweight Conti Excelsus for high-temperature applications.

Effective vibration control

Hydraulic resistance increases the damping effect of vibration control elements. Continental uses this effect in bushings and mounts with an integrated fluid system. These hydro bushings can be used in agricultural machines as engine and cab mounts, for example. Continental's hydro bushing withstands loads of 1,230 N to 3,000 N and offers an impressively long service life. Unlike classic mounts, it can be rotated about its center axis, simplifying maintenance work on the vehicles as a result.

The hydro bushing ensures even better vibration control than classic bushings thanks to its integrated fluid system. Photos: ContiTech