ZF
Reliable and Innovative
For more than 60 years, ZF has been supplying innovative chassis products to manufacturers of trucks, buses, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, special vehicles. Within the ZF Group, we are the specialists for CV chassis technology.
As a partner for added value in the commercial vehicle industry, we work with state-of-the-art technology and – as a global leader – offer our customers the best solutions in the product lines axle and wheel suspension, steering components, drivers cabin suspension, dampers and damping systems.
Expertise in Chassis Technology
Our design expertise guarantees fast implementation of growing safety requirements and increasing comfort standards.
This is how we develop optimum chassis technology with outstanding safety standards – the basis for problem-free transport of goods weighing several tons. Short development times from initial talks to components ready for production and strict compliance with technical specifications guarantee top customer satisfaction.
That’s a promise.
Lightweight Chassis Design
We are committed to the permanent improvement of our products and processes. ZF optimizes lightweight construction with new materials and engineering processes, with innovative product design and extensive process experience. The business unit provides essential impetus for continuous weight reduction in commercial vehicle construction. Our product innovations increase the payload, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance the comfort of commercial vehicles. The result of this optimization is the use of lightweight materials such as aluminum torque rods or design optimizations through the use of casting technology for torque rods and v-links. Another way of reducing weight is function integration, achieved for instance with our 4-point links. These optimizations are aimed at reducing costs and improving driving dynamics. The focus here is on the chassis as a safety component.
4-point link – Integration of Functions and Weight Reduction
The 4-point link integrates the functions perviously performed seperately bei the v-link and the stabilizer bar, and fullfills all of the familiar role stabilization requirements. Axle control is ensured even in extrem driving conditions, ground clearance is improved consideradly in comparision to previously existing systems, and the weight of the system is reduced by an average of 20 kilogramms.
In addition, the new link improves driving safety over the entire performance range of the chassis. For commercial vehicle manufacturers the new chassis module provides further benefits, since it represents an advance in the standardization of axle variants. Incorporation of the 4-point link into the chassis reduces the number of components and hence the associated tool and development costs. The functional integration also decreases assembly costs.
Independent Suspension Components – More safety and Comfort in Commercial Vehicles
The demand for even better passenger comfort in coaches requires new axle suspension concepts. That is why ZF started developing independent suspension systems according to the principle of double-wishbone axles at an early stage. This successful concept is set to be applied increasingly in trucks as well as special vehicles because the benefits in terms of safety and comfort apply here as well.
Cooperation within the ZF Group is a given, but ZF is also a development partner for many systems suppliers worldwide. We develop and supply ready-to-install modules for the axle systems of our customers.
We cooperate intensively with our customers – from development to volume production. We take on the development work right through to the design of efficient logistics concepts to give our customers the space to focus on their business.
Vibration Damping in the Vehicle
The primary suspension absorbs excitations originating from the road. The suspension enables the wheel to follow the unevenness of the road. However, the stored energy is released again by the suspension system when the wheel is rebounding. The chassis needs shock absorbers to dampen vibrations caused by this as quickly as possible.
Sprung and unsprung masses vibrate in different frequency ranges. Shock absorbers aligned with vehicle suspension basically prevent the body from rocking and vibrating. They ensure permanent road grip of the wheels and thus good lateral guidance and braking effects. Damping plays a decisive role in driving safety and ride comfort.
LDM – Air Spring Damper Module
The LDM air spring damper module is an alternative to the established concept of installing dampers and air springs next to one another in the suspension. It is a compact unit consisting of both an air spring and a damper.
By reducing the number of individual components and saving installation space, the LDM significantly contributes to the new front axle requirements. This design is in a way similar to air spring damper modules for cabin suspension. They are ideally suited for the innovative axle designs of the future.
Premium Comfort valve – PCv® When Stability Simply Feels Good.
A high degree of comfort is a core requirement in coaches. That’s where innovative damper technology comes in, which is provided by ZF. PCV combines comfort and stability. It also significantly reduces hydraulic noise.
With the introduction of alternative drives, the arrangement of units and components changes; for example, batteries are partially located in the roof. Greater damping is required to take account of the higher center of gravity.
PCV is the ideal system to ensure that comfort is not compromised: by lowering the comfort-relevant damping, it offers the possibility of not having to accept reduced comfort but at the same time ensures that very good vehicle stability is achieved.
This means that the vehicle is comfortable, safe and stable at the same time.
The characteristics of PCV also reduce the transmission of disturbing noises into the passenger compartment.
The core of PCV technology is a new piston valve concept, in which numerous parameters are available. This makes it possible to generate characteristic curves that correspond even more precisely to the customer’s wishes and the requirements for the vehicle. This is another new standard that ZF sets for buses.
Safety Due to Regulated Damping Force
A great increase in damping force in the range of low damper speeds reduces rolling and pitching motions to a minimum. At mid-range speeds, the changed oil feed system ensures a slow increase in damping force, which improves comfort.
The damping force increases again at high deflection speeds in order to keep the vehicle stable without pitching and oscillation of the vehicle body.
