Auburn Hills’ BorgWarner Automotive has announced it has developed and is now manufacturing HY-VO chain drive systems for hybrid vehicle systems.
HY-VO, short for high-velocity chain on involute profile sprockets, is a patented, inverted-tooth, silent-chain technology that utilizes a high-efficiency rocker joint. They are commonly applied in transfer cases and transmissions.
“BorgWarner invented the patented HY-VO chain-drive technology that has revolutionized chain drives, delivering millions of HY-VO chain drives to the automotive market each year,” says Joel Wiegert, president and general manager of Morse Systems and vice president of BorgWarner Inc. “We are excited that our HY-VO chains can be a key enabler for hybrid and electric vehicles. We look at it as a great example of how our long-standing expertise can be a vital part of where the future of the auto industry is going.”
Chain drives generally are easily integrated into transmission designs in P2 off-axis (when the electric motor is located between the engine and transmission), P3 (when the electric motor is located after the transmission output), and P4 (when the electric motor is located at the rear axle) hybrid applications and offer layout flexibility.
Beyond easy packaging and reduced mechanical complexity, chain-drive systems are able to achieve a large range of drive ratios and provide opportunities for reduced manufacturing and assembly costs.
Through BorgWarner’s random pattern technology, the HY-VO chains also minimize noise, vibration, and harshness levels, resulting in a better driving experience for the customer.
