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As a leading manufacturing of on and off-highway equipment ($34.2 billion in 2013), we are constantly looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption and noise.  I have known Norm for about 10 years and seen many creative solutions come from his company. The most exciting concept for me is the On/Off fan drive system which has the potential to reduce both fuel consumptions and noise. 

CNH uses a variety of fan drive systems depending on packaging, efficiency, noise, and cost targets. The most common fan drives from the least expensive to the most are: direct engine drive, direct engine drive with viscous-clutch, hydraulic drive with a fixed displacement pump, and hydraulic drive with a variable displacement pump. Higher fuel prices are driving the demand for more efficient drives which are also more expensive. However, in many markets customers are more sensitive to the initial cost versus the operating costs and continue to choose the less efficient options.

The Mather’s design, if commercialized, because of its simplicity has the potential to offer the performance close to a variable displacement pump system for the cost of a fixed displacement system. This is a huge value proposition that would help shift the market to more efficient systems. CNH is definitely interested in using the Mather’s On/Off Technology.

Gary Kassen
Engineering Director
Hydraulics & Pneumatics
Case New Holland Industrial

I am writing in support of the novel Mathers hydro-mechanical transmission (HMT).  This concept was recently awarded a two year research grant from the Centre for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP.org),  a NSF back research centre and the premier fluid power research organisation in the USA.  The competition for these awards was extremely fierce and goes to show how promising the technology potential is viewed by our organisation.  

The potential of this technology truly excites me for a number of value added reasons.  Foremost is the continuously variable nature of this transmission, which enables optimum operation of the vehicle engine.  Second is the high efficiency at which power is transmitted through the transmission by combining both hydrostatic and mechanical pathways.  Third is the extremely compact nature in which this HMT provides infinitely variable torque and speed.  And perhaps most importantly, the potential to provide this transmitted power in an unparalleled low cost manner due to the compact packaging that is possible.

Mathers Hydro-Mechanical Transmission (HMT) awarded 2 year research grant by CCEFP
Michael J.Gust,
Director of Industry relations,
Centre for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power,
University of Minnesota

The Mathers pump, a vane pump with retractable vanes, is an important new development that has many practical applications. Many functions on mobile hydraulic equipment are only used intermittently. When not in use, the pumps on such circuits waste a considerable amount of energy. Examples of such functions include the dump circuit for trucks and hydraulic fan drives. There are many others. The retractable feature of the Mathers vane pump can greatly lower the energy use in such circuits.

The Mathers pump can also be used to make a power-split transmission, also known as a hydro-mechanical transmission. Such transmissions have the potential of being more efficient than hydrostatic transmissions, but retain the continuously variable effective gear ratio feature. The reason for the increased efficiency is that some of the power is transmitted mechanically rather than solely hydraulically.

Kim A. Stelson,
Professor and Director,
NSF Engineering Research Center for Compact
and Efficient Fluid Power

I am writing to endorse support for continuing research of an exciting new technology offered by Mathers Hydraulics, an Australian R&D firm.  The technology leverages the field proven concept of hydrostatic fluid power with a parallel mechanical drive path to create a continously variable hydro-mechanical transmission(HMT) that promoses to be not only compact in size, but efficient and cost effective.  The net result is an etremely adaptable transmission which is easily integrated with an electronically controlled engine to create an intelligent powertrain solution that has potential to provide substantial fuel savings.  In addition, it is relatively straight forward to include a fluid power energy storage device, called an accumulator, to create a hydrid powertrain resulting in further fuel savings.

Michael J.Gust,
Director of Industry relations,
Centre for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power,
University of Minnesota