THE MARKET

Sergio Oltolini

On the
user’s part
OMFB presents

an innovative

electromagnetic device

for the activation of the

power take-offs.

The novelty consists in the

originality of the function-

ing principle, the sophisti-

Example of the new application He adds: «We have developed a reliable solution, cated electronic manage-
OMFB Mag-tronic.
which is easy to mount and user-friendly for
light vehicles that are not equipped with ment and compactness.
compressed air. It is supplied with a manage-
Domenico Bianchi, Marketing and Communica- ment ”brain” able to monitor several parameters
tions Director and joint proprietor of OMFB at
It is ideal for application on
for correct functioning, to inform the operator in
Provaglio d’Iseo, has many reasons to be satisfied: the cab of engagement/disengagement, to
«In 2005 the company had a turnover of more than inform the manufacturer of any malfunctioning industrial vehicles used in
37 million euros with a growth of 17%, mainly and the amount of work carried out by the
assured by the launch of about 40 new products device». «Four months were required for the heavy duty and difficult
found in the catalogue. The innovative capability study, planning and development of Mag-tronic
that characterises the company and which takes - states Engineer Alessandro Zoni, Director of
shape with a constant extension of the range of the the OMFB Technical Office – without counting environmental conditions.
twenty-or-so families in portfolio, became particu- the time required for static and dynamic experi-
larly important with the launch of Mag-tronic. Mag- mentation in the field. Initial bench-top tests
tronic (figure 1) is an innovative electromagnetic were carried out to identify the correct set-up of
device for the activation of power take-offs, original the main parameters which would guarantee
due to its functioning principle, the sophisticated the agreed optimum respect to the required
electronic management and compactness». specifications and project restraints.

fluidotecnica 303 SETTEMBRE 2006 115

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THE MARKET

transforms the mechanical power into hydrau-

1. Mag-tronic,
lic power in order to supply a hydraulic plant
the innovative for many applications. Mag-tronic is an
electromagnetic device engagement device for power take-offs. Its
for activation of the
functioning is based on a small electro-magnet
power take-off
developed by thanks to the differentiation of the intensity of
OMFB. the current in the engagement phase and the
maintenance phase of the engagement system
itself. The control system monitors fundamen-
tal parameters such as current and voltage of
the electro-magnet without the aid of external
sensors. From these parameters the system is
able to detect the engagement or disengage-
ment position of the power take-off». Figure 2
represents a section of the power take-off with
the Mag-tronic engagement system.

2. Power take-off
section Quality and flexibility
with Mag-tronic
engagement. Of the offer
OMFB Spa Hydraulic Components was
established in the early 1950’s thanks to the
strength and the entrepreneurial courage of 3
brothers: Nicola, Umberto and Sandro Bianchi.
Initially the work consisted in the garaging of
original mechanical components mounted on
war vehicles and the successive production of
several spare parts for national and foreign
lorries. Market requirements then pushed the
brothers into extending their product range to
Verifications were then made with respect to strength of electro-hydraulic systems, excessive
include hydraulic components. Today, the
temperature restraints of the system. heat development and/or large overall sizes
company boasts a wide range of products,
On setting of the set-up values, the system was typical of single or double solenoid engage-
which are divided into 15 families. If other
installed on a gearbox and subjected to work ments. marketed products are added to the list the
cycles that were much heavier than the real In particular, Mag-tronic allows the use of smaller families become 20. There are actually 170
applications. The engagement system was then electromagnets with respect to those in the people employed and production only takes
subjected to extreme temperature conditions in passed and present solenoid-based engage- place at the Provaglio d’Iseo establishment.
a climatic chamber according to American ment systems found on the market. With
Military Standard MIL-STD-810F. A pre-product Magtronic the kinematic chain between the
was realised that underwent vibration tests in engagement device and gear is reduced to a
specialised laboratories according to MIL-STD- minimum so reducing risks of fault due to
810F. The result is an engagement device that breakage of components or assembly errors
allows the elimination of all previous power drastically».
take-off engagement methods and the specific But let’s proceed in order.
problems linked to each of these: alterations of
the adjustment of the mechanical cable engage-
ment system, breakage and low engagement Innovative solution
force of electric engagement systems, air loss «The power-take-off - explains Zoni – is a
and breakage of the pneumatic engagement mechanical gear device, which connected to the
system circuits, dirtying and alterations to the gearbox of industrial vehicles withdraws power
braking system of vehicles with the depression from the gearbox itself transferring it for external
engagement system, low engagement force and use, in particular, a rotary hydraulic pump that

116 fluidotecnica 303 SETTEMBRE 2006

 MERCATO

This comprises: a body or main box,

usually in cast iron or aluminium (2), 3. The three
distinct levels of
which makes up the external container
of all of the other mechanical elements Mag-tronic feedback
guarantee maximum
and which is used as the fixed connec- reliability.
tion to the gearbox; a main gear, known
as “constant mesh” (1) that is combined
with the gear inside the gearbox and
which transfers movement from the MicroP System User Producer
gearbox gear to the other gears inside
the power take-off; one or more driven
or auxiliary gears (3) of the power take-
off, which combine with the main gear
(1); an exit shaft (16) for transmission of
movement of gears (1) and (3) inside the
external mesh device (usually a pump).

The engagement unit includes an engagement

The turnover for 2005 piston (9) that can be moved between a
was 37,124,000 €. retracted inactive position and an advanced
The sales organisation in active position, a return element (7) joined to the
Italy envisions a network of 8 engagement piston (9) and a moveable gear (4)
sole agents for the Centre, working with the return element (7) between an
the South and the Islands. inactive and active position that allows engage-
The North is covered directly ment of the exit shaft (16) with the driven or
by the company and the branch in auxiliary gears (3).
Modena.
The engagement unit includes an electro-
There are 3 representatives
magnet (11) with a single coil adapt for moving,
for Italy, who are employees.
when excited, a mobile anchor (12) to which an
The foreign market is served
directly by the company for some
activation rod is fixed (10) that acts on the piston
ministerial customers and for other (9). The electro-magnet (11) is positioned co-
cases regarding independent dealers. The axially and in continuation of the piston running
OMFB is also acknowledged by the market
foreign turnover for a while now has been for the fact that its catalogue contains 90%
seat (9). In more detail, the electro-magnet (11) is
around 50% of the total; the most of the products that the customer fixed to the body (2) by means of a front bush
important markets being Europe, Oceania requests. In this way it becomes a unique that projects from the cylinder to be fastened in
and South Africa. interlocutor for all of the customer’s the seat inlet. Moreover the front bush acts as a
OMFB’s strong points are requirements. guide and running element for the actuation rod
quality and flexibility of the The technical office comprises two (10). The engagement unit also includes a device
offer: following the production engineers, a technical director and an (14) that allows manual engagement of the
process in all of its phases, from Electronics sector R&D manager, 6 techni- power take-off in case of system malfunctioning,
design to sale. The company is cal draughtsmen and an after-sales preventing unwanted machine standstill.
not bound by possible delays manager. The calculation programmes
by sub-suppliers and can
The piston (9) is stimulated by an elastic element
used are: SOLID WORKS, KISS SOFT for
therefore plan and/or modify (6) (return spring) that takes the piston back to
gear, shaft and bearing calculations,
product preparation the retracted inactive position following failure
COSMOS for finished elements, FLOW
programmes on the basis of WORKS for the dimensioning of hydraulic
to excite the electro-magnet (11) or unscrewing
market requirements. components. The economical of the manual activation screws (14).
performance in 2006 is confirming itself
very positive with a trend of firm and
constant growth of the turnover,
envisioned at around 40,000,000 €.

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THE MARKET

Reliability guaranteed where information relative to the functional

Mag-tronic includes an electronic control history of the individual product in the field is
device based on a micro-processor integrated recorded. Other information can also be input to
directly into the electro-magnet (figure 3). Mag-tronic e.g. the maximum working pressure
«The intelligence and the calculation capacity of the hydraulic plant whenever a pressure
of the micro-processor - explains Engineer transducer is available.
Davide Zanotti, OMFB R&D Manager - allows to «Mag-tronic has been developed to guarantee
obtain a noteworthy engagement force and maximum reliability by introducing 3 distinct
continual excitement of the electro-magnet for feedback levels: the first at ´System level, i.e. the
Mag-tronic, while containing overall size. The feedback ring that controls the electro-magnet;
current value that runs through the coil of the the second at ´User` level made up from the
electro-magnet is fed back to the micro- continual self-diagnosis and capacity of the
processor. The micro-processor is also fed-back system to inform the user or other systems of its
with the value of the power supply and is also functioning status and any types of problems; the
programmed to detect the real position of the third feedback ring is at the ´Producer` level and
power take-off moveable gear without the aid is made up from the information that Mag-tronic
of other sensors or limit switches». As indicated 4. Mag-tronic connection layout. stores in the Eeprom during its working life».
in figure 4, Mag-tronic receives the power readerservice.it n. 256
take-off input engagement/disengagement Mag-tronic control logic makes it ready to be
command, an enabling signal for power take- interfaced with the electronic control units of
off engagement/disengagement (in figure 4 the vehicles and the gearboxes. Mag-tronic can
´Enable`) conditioned by pressure on the be powered by voltages between 10 V and 30
clutch pedal, the status of the handbrake or the V, in a way that they can be used in the same
status of any other condition or group of version both in vehicles with 12V power supply
conditions that must be envisioned for the and in vehicles powered by 24V. The Mag-
execution of these operations. tronic control system has an Eeprom memory