Heavy Duty Aftermarket Super Truck

George Sturmon, Ed Murray, Josh Medling, Susan Schmidt, and Glen Harris
Enviro-Cool
Sullivan, MO

The Heavy Duty Aftermarket Super Truck patented system delivers up to 10% reduced fuel consumption, under-hood heat reduction, and sound reduction. This aftermarket upgrade does not affect the engine or body aerodynamics. This platform truck is designed for aftermarket efficient technologies to collaborate on and deliver a “used super truck” that is affordable for today's fleets and owners.

The Advanced Engine Cooling System uses a central radiator plenum, two electric fans, and hood ductwork to transfer hot radiator air outside the body, not into the engine compartment. The system uses a full cowl induction hood scoop to supply cool air to the engine compartment and engine air intake system. Then, hot engine compartment air is transferred out through the exit ducts.

This system produces 50% reduction in under-hood temperature using only 2 horsepower (HP) to drive the electric fans, compared to 60 to 80 HP for the original equipment fan system. There is a 50% reduction in fan noise, with fuel savings up to l0%.The system can idle on electric fans using minimal HP and far less fuel than the original equipment fan assembly.

“We've been working on this technology for over ten years, so winning the Automotive/Transportation category is very exciting for our team, and adds a lot of credibility to the Aftermarket Super Truck Platform and Modular Class 8 Hybrid Powertrain we are developing. Considering under-hood thermodynamics hasn't been a strong point in the industry, this recognition significantly helps our mission.”

The system optimizes any heavy truck, converting a fleet's aging assets into “better-than-new” Super Trucks — along with partner and combined affiliate company upgrades. Although licensed shops could retrofit the system in a few days, OEMs could implement the upgrade on assembly lines with greater efficiency and cost savings.

The system provides fewer emissions, less downtime, increased truck life, increased available horsepower more efficient combustion, fewer engine failures and towing fees, less maintenance cost, and a return on investment in less than three years.

The average retail price for used Class 8 trucks has plunged 22% in the past two years, prompting fleets to keep existing assets longer; which increases maintenance costs.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

SHOT Lightweight Engine Starting System Without Battery/Starter

Michel Bernier, BRP, Quebec, Canada
Ski-Doo Engineering Team – USA, Canada, and Austria

The SHOT starting system meets a mountain snowmobiler’s need for easy starting without adding significant weight. SHOT enables a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver, and easy-to-start snowmobile by eliminating the battery, starter motor, solenoid, ring gear, and cables.The resulting pushbutton start saves the rider’s energy by eliminating the rope start.

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Plasma Deposition of Metal in Composite Panels

Erik S. Weiser, Roberto J. Cano, Brian J. Jensen, and Stephen J. Hales, NASA Langley Research Center
Joel Alexa, Lockheed Martin, Hampton,VA

This technique prepares met- al/composite hybrid laminates, also known as fiber metal laminates (FML), by depositing metal directly onto fabric using a plasma deposition process, eliminating the need for separate foils and providing a better interlayer bonding.Various fabrics and metal alloys can be used for ballistic protection, automotive structures, composite doors and windows, and aeronautics and aerospace applications.

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Lightweight, Wear-Resistant, Metal Matrix Composite Brake Rotors

Lori Bracamonte and James Withers,
ATS-MER,LLC,
Tucson,AZ

Cast iron automobile brake rotors are heavy and suffer from limited lifetimes and excessive wear in the form of dust.This new, lower-temperature, hot pressing technique eliminates porosity and defects, as well as wear and dust generation. Due to the lighter weight and reduced inertial forces, lower CO2 emissions are also realized. The Al-SiC MMC brake rotors offer significant environmental benefits, a more comfortable ride, and elimination of the need to replace the rotors over the life of the vehicle.

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RADIALcvt (Continuously Variable Transmission)

Jan Naude, Varibox CVT Technologies,
Johannesburg, Gauteng,
South Africa

The RADIALcvt is a multi-parallel power path type of Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) using traction drive technology to optimize the factors contributing to high mechanical efficiencies in traction drives. It has only one friction drive interface in series in a parallel power path, and at least six parallel power paths.The CVT does not have any hydraulic control.

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