CreepDrive 2: High performance at low speeds

Poclain Hydraulics, Sturtevant, Wis., has launched the new CreepDrive 2 system that’s designed to help machine users maximize productivity, work quality and driver comfort.

The CreepDrive system, a true hybrid mechanical-hydraulic transmission, allows vehicles to work at very low constant speeds regardless of the engine speed, providing auxiliary systems with the power they need to perform work effectively. When the vehicle drives on the road in non-working mode, CreepDrive is totally disengaged, letting the vehicle reach maximum speed while, at the same time, preventing any mechanical losses.

The system is designed to facilitate installation on a chassis. The complete CreepDrive lineup contains two different sizes of motors, a range of pumps and valves, and a plug-and-play control kit that includes a CAN bus communication package. The new CDM20 motor provides up to 2.4 l (122 cu.in.) of displacement with two speeds (permitting the possibility to switch from full to half displacement).

In conjunction with the gear reduction ratio in the rear drive axle differential, the CDM20 can provide an overall torque ranging from 36,000 to 72,000 ft-lbf (50,000 to 100,000 Nm). Other new features include a reinforced shift cylinder as well as an extremely robust design. This new motor complements the existing CDM222 motor by offering twice the speed and three times as much torque.

CreepDrive removes the added stress on braking and clutching that trucks working at low speeds experience, as well as the additional maintenance required to keep those systems working properly. Replacing friction braking with hydrostatic braking, which acts as an integral decelerator, reduces the need to feather the brakes. This allows for more precision and less opportunity for error, helping operators increase safety and productivity.

In addition, radial technology eliminates the need for an additional reduction stage and offers some of the highest efficiencies on the market. This reduces fuel consumption and noise, which is a key requirement for urban applications. Finally, as an integration benefit, the CDM20 motor is fixed only on the one side of the chassis, which guarantees the original chassis flexibility.

CreepDrive 2 meets the needs of a wide range of applications such as road maintenance and road marking, concrete mixers, bridge inspection, rail track maintenance, airport and road sweepers, deicers, snow cutting, suction dredging, slinging and mulching/chipping machines, among others.