Weinheim, February 9, 2017. The Freudenberg Group has won the Rhineland-Palatinate 2017 Innovation Award with an innovative electromagnetic pulsation method for the manufacture of diaphragm accumulators. The technology group received the Award in the “Special Award for Industry” category. Yesterday, the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister for Economic Affairs, Volker Wissing, presented six companies in five categories at a ceremonial event in Trier (Germany). The Rhineland-Palatinate Innovation Award is one of the oldest innovation awards in Germany and is jointly awarded by the Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture and the working groups of the Chambers of Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts.
Diaphragm accumulators are used for example in vehicle gearing mechanisms. They consist of gas and liquid portions that are separated by a diaphragm. If the pressure rises in the oil circuit, the diaphragm accumulator takes up the liquid. This compresses the gas. If the pressure in the hydraulic system falls, the gas expands and forces the stored liquid back into the oil circuit. Tried-and-tested applications in the auto industry include energy storage in double clutch and automated transmissions, pulsation damping and hydraulic systems for suspension damping. Uses in other industries involve increases in cycle times and the shortening of hoist times in process flows, along with the general storage of hydraulic energy. But these advantages are offset by disadvantages, mainly in the manufacture of diaphragm accumulators. Especially in standard applications with largely low system pressures, the large number of process steps and components leads to higher production costs than necessary.
That's why Freudenberg Sealing Technologies developed a new approach for the production of diaphragm accumulators at its Remagen site – with fewer process steps and components, and shorter installation times. The innovative electromagnetic pulsation method offers high stability and component cleanliness. Thanks to this innovative process, together with the use of lightweight aluminum, new application options are opening up for diaphragm accumulators, in hydro-pneumatic suspension applications, for example, such as dampers in the auto industry or in industrial hydraulic systems. With a car this means: less weight, lower fuel consumption and fewer harmful emissions.