Technology transfer with signaling effect

A hydraulic accumulator developed for the automotive industry is opening up new perspectives for agricultural machinery under extreme conditions. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is successfully transferring proven passenger car technology to a new application.

What was originally developed for use in passenger car transmissions is now proving to be a robust solution for demanding applications in agriculture. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has successfully adapted its own piston accumulator for use in agricultural machinery – thus laying the foundation for a new, future-proof application.

The starting point was the need of a well-known international manufacturer of agricultural machinery, which was facing increased demands on the quality and service life of the diaphragm accumulators it had previously used. Machines such as sugarcane harvesters, in particular, place extreme demands on the hydraulics: high ambient temperatures, very high humidity, and continuous operation over extended periods. The accumulators are also mounted directly on the transmission and are only accessible with considerable maintenance effort. Accordingly, the requirements for the reliability and service life of the components are extremely high.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies recognized the parallels to applications in the automotive industry and initiated a change of perspective: Instead of a diaphragm accumulator, a piston accumulator was to be used – a technology that has proven itself millions of times over in passenger car transmissions for many years. Freudenberg's piston accumulators are characterized by their robust design and high resistance to temperature and pressure fluctuations.

The pressure accumulators, manufactured at the Freudenberg plant in Remagen, Germany, were initially tested as a replacement solution. With a volume of 0.75 liters and a compact design, they were ideally suited for installation directly on the transmission. In the first phase, an adapter, developed by the customer, was still required. FST now supplies several variants of the piston accumulator that do not require an adapter at all.

Extensive comparative tests confirmed the advantages of the new solution: The piston accumulator achieved a service life three to four times longer than the previously used diaphragm accumulator. Another advantage was the short development time. Because Freudenberg Sealing Technologies was able to draw on proven automotive technology and adapt it specifically, test samples were available to the customer within a short time. Today, the piston accumulator is being delivered in series production.

This successful technology transfer demonstrates the potential of transferring established solutions from the automotive industry to other sectors. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is currently examining the extent to which the concept can be applied to other customers, machine types, and transmission applications. In doing so, the company is making a significant contribution to increasing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in the mobile machinery industry.