Saxomat

Under the name Saxomat derived from the manufacturer's name Fichtel & Sachs, was from the 1950s an electro- pneumatic actuation of the clutch offered until the end of the 1960s, which was installed for example in vehicles, the manufacturer VW, DKW, Borgward or Opel.

The Saxomat was from 1959 Opel Rekord P1 available as " Olymat ". As early as August 1957, Daimler- Benz presented at the Hydrak, the 219 sedan, 450 DM surcharge was available in the Mercedes and, unlike the Saxomat had a hydraulic clutch.

The Saxomat could not enforce properly on the market. Many a time have been criticized starting comfort and imprecise maneuvering. Also, this technique proved to be vulnerable sometimes.

Technology

The Saxomat was a development of the F & S roller centrifugal clutch and should be a cheaper alternative to models with automatic transmission. Priced the Saxomat was between a normal shift and the automatic transmission.

In essence, the Saxomat works with two parallel clutches and a freewheel:

  • The role of the centrifugal clutch is closed in dependence on the engine speed. Above idle speed ( 950..1000/min ) closes this clutch so that at about 1500 rpm. the full torque can be transmitted.
  • However, the centrifugal clutch acts only in the traction mode ( when engine torque is to be routed to the drive axle ).
  • Gas is released, the engine to idle speed with brakes, as in the coasting mode, the drag torque of the drive shaft is connected through a reverse biased freewheeling with the transmission, although the centrifugal clutch is released.
  • Because the Fliekkraftkupplung is bypassed through the freewheeling, the vehicle can be lowered both uphill with reverse gear as well as downhill with pickled forward gear. Trailing is also possible through the freewheel.

Principle, one can proceed at the start-up clutch in every gear, but increases in higher gears, the time until the speed of 1500 rpm. was reached and the clutch wear increases.

Regardless can the power flow with a second clutch disconnect, so even at higher speeds, a gear change is possible:

  • If the selector lever is provided with a switch is touched, opens this second coupling with the aid of a vacuum unit. The vacuum box is connected by a solenoid valve to the intake manifold of the engine.
  • If the selector lever is released, the solenoid valve shuts off, air may slowly flow back into the can and the clutch closes again.
  • About the throttling of the air flowing back of the clutch operation is controlled accordingly soft. The delay is variable, and depends on whether and how much the driver gives gas.
  • The more the driver gas is, the faster the clutch closes. This is intended to prevent revving of the engine without load.

The freewheel has no influence on the second clutch so that this coupling can always disconnect the power flow.

711258
de