German systems supplier ZF Sachs has developed a dual mass flywheel

More than 50 per cent of the cars in Europe are diesel. The recent advances in diesel have made them an attractive candidate for passenger cars and vans. And more and more people are lapping up diesel cars in Europe. Many motorists, particularly diesel drivers, owe it to the dual mass flywheel (DMF) that there is pleasant silence in the vehicle's interior and their ears do not suffer from booming, humming or roaring noises. The flywheel may be located deep inside the engine and away from even the most vigilant eyes, but it is nevertheless one of the most vital organs of an automobile.

Interestingly, the dual mass flywheel, which is located between the engine and the clutch, contains a torsional damper consisting of a spring package and sliding block, and absorbs engine vibrations and irregularities. Claimed to be a tuned system that must be matched to the engine torque curve, engine resonant characteristics, vehicle load curves (including axle ratio/tyre size calculations), the reduction of torsional vibrations not only protects the driver's and passengers' ears, but also preserves the entire driveline, leading to a longer service life. As it functions as a noise and vibration filter, the DMF also makes it possible to drive at low engine speeds, which would otherwise be almost unbearable due to resonance. Moreover, driving in the low speed range reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

Since the start of production in 1999, the DMF by ZF Sachs began its triumphant success: "In the past seven years, we have always had two-digit growth rates", explains Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Krieg, head of the Powertrain business unit and member of the Board of Management, ZF Sachs AG. In the past year alone 2.24 million DMF rolled off the line in Schweinfurt. A total of 10 million units have been produced since 1999 - with a defect rate of zero. "In the engineering and production process we place major importance on quality. No faulty DMF leaves our plant."

Meanwhile, ZF vibration dampers have been installed in 60 different vehicle models. They are so reliable that they require no repair whatsoever, throughout the entire (vehicle) life! Maybe this is the reason why drivers are not even aware that their car features a dual mass flywheel. The journey of DMF, which started with the diesel boom in the year 1999 may not be ten years old, but it has found itself wide acceptance and is counted amongst the most reliable components of an automobile.