Energy Efficient Australian CV Joint Eyes Hugh International Markets

The locally invented Thompson Coupling is ready to take on the global shaft couplings and CV joints marketplace, estimated at over $30 billion per annum. The coupling is now in pilot production, with laboratory testing underway in Orange NSW.

This revolutionary new CV joint provides greater strength, reliability, safety and efficiency than conventional CV joints, reducing much of the stress, vibration, friction and wear experienced in most current designs.

The Thompson Coupling is the world’s first and only true constant velocity joint with no load bearing sliding surfaces. It is also highly efficient under radial as well as axial loads (ideal for aircraft), solving a problem that has eluded engineers since the first Cardan joint was invented over 400 years ago. It is capable of transmitting huge amounts of torque without frictional losses or vibration.

Glenn Thompson’s key conceptual breakthrough was to design a CV joint in which the joint rotates around the same central point as the joint is axially deflected. Simple comparative demonstrations immediately show how much less rotational resistance is generated by the Thompson Coupling when the shafts are rotated at an angle.

Adelaide based and internationally recognized industrial engineer and performance consultant, Dr Kailash N. Sriram, has hailed the Thompson Coupling as "almost magic" as it has the "unique feature of absorbing very high input amplitudes from the driving unit, without generating frictional forces, and it does not raise the operating shaft or coupling temperatures." He also said that the inventor has "a highly enhanced product for both simple and complex machines".

At tests in a laboratory in Sydney, The Thompson Coupling not only easily outlasted its rivals, it needed 9.3% less energy to do the same job, promising significant energy and fuel savings. Details of these test results, plus Dr Sriram’s initial report are available on the website www.cvcoupling.com.

Commercialisation Road
Patents have recently been granted in the USA, China, Russia, South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand, as well as pending in a broad range of other industrialised countries. With over 400 million shaft couplings produced globally each year, the Thompson Coupling appears to have a very prosperous future.

“The coupling’s ability to transfer energy at a true constant velocity, will revolutionise the design of many transmission systems,” said inventor Glenn Thompson, adding, “I see it being used in a wide range of automotive, marine, manufacturing, industrial and aeronautical applications.”

Thompson first thought of the idea some 20 years ago, and it was only several years ago that when he was working on another piece of equipment, that the core idea came back to him and he decided to take it up again.

The company has already fielded enquiries from a wide range of potential end-users all keen to be at the forefront of this new technology.

Over the next 12 months, the Directors are working on furthering relationships with existing and potential commercial partners throughout Australia and the world, positioning the Thompson Coupling to become a major force in global industry.

Dr Chris Nicol presents the 2007 Innovation Lecture in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, 5–7 June.
Click here for information and here to register.

Disclaimer: The Warren Centre publishes articles relating to new technology and innovation that are often based on information supplied by third parties. While an editorial process is applied, we make no exhaustive investigation into the accuracy of the information, thus no liability will be accepted for its accuracy. Please note that in providing this information, The Warren Centre is not supporting or promoting any technology or company, merely seeking to inform. Interested readers should take their own steps to verify the information prior to relying on it in any way.

Contents

Innovative Australian Engineering Magicians to Take on the World

Energy Efficient Australian CV Joint Eyes Huge International Markets
Here's Looking at You
"Born Globals" – Business Going Global from Day 1
A "Year of Ideas" for Richer Engineering Returns

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