In cooperation with LuK.
LuK produces 10 million “DMFs” every year, even though the automobile manufacturers said at the beginning: We don't need that.
But at LuK in Bühl they were certain that there will be a time when they will no longer be able to do without a “two-mass flywheel”. The “ZMS” is therefore not just an innovation “made in Germany, made in Bühl, made by LuK”. It is also the story of a developer who was convinced his idea was the right one.
Dr. Wolfgang Reik is now retired, but his story about the invention of the “ZMS” is more topical than ever. Looking back, this development appears almost philosophical. For Dr. It was clear to Reik and his colleagues at the time that the day would come when you had to think about how to dampen the oscillations in the drive train more effectively. Four-cylinder engines became more powerful, but the vehicles were to become more comfortable. But the much-used four-cylinder engine in particular generates particularly annoying vibrations in the lower speed range. Decoupling was necessary.
In order to be able to counteract vibrations and further reduce speeds, a solution had to be found in the drive train. At LuK, the “dual mass flywheel” was invented before the automotive industry demanded it. That is the real essence of innovation.
Dr. Reik was convinced of his idea and invented a flywheel with a decoupled damping system, in which one part of the flywheel influenced the inertia of the engine and the other side increased the opposite moment of the transmission. Both sides are coupled by torsion damper. The result? More ride comfort.
ZMS for the future
Meanwhile LuK manufactures over 1 million ZMS per year and this number is likely to increase further. The desire for lower speeds to save CO2 emissions was needed on the comfort side of an invention from Bühl.
Part 2 of the five-part series on the occasion of the company anniversary of the Schaeffler brand LuK.