Mobile Machinery
Built for Tough Conditions
Reliable Drive Technology for Mobile Machinery – Robust, Precise and Efficient in Operation
Harsh Operating Conditions Demand Robust, Low-Maintenance Systems
Mobile machinery operates in environments where conditions are rarely ideal. Construction equipment, municipal vehicles, street-cleaning machines, agricultural machinery and specialised vehicles must withstand dust, dirt, moisture, vibration and extreme temperature fluctuations. At the same time, they are expected to deliver precise control, energy efficiency and operator comfort.
Available installation space is often limited, while torque requirements are high. As a result, clutches and brakes must combine high power density with robust, dependable performance.
They engage and disengage auxiliary equipment, transmit power, secure axes and protect mechanical systems from overload, even when the machine is operating on uneven terrain or under conditions far more demanding than those indicated in a specification sheet.
Mönninghoff develops electromagnetic clutch and brake systems for mobile applications that are tailored to vehicle architecture, drive tasks, environmental conditions and energy requirements. The result is technology that performs reliably not only on the road, but far beyond it.
When the Operating Environment Takes No Prisoners
Mönninghoff components can be used in a wide variety of mobile machines, including
- Construction machinery and construction equipment
- Municipal and street-cleaning vehicles
- Agricultural and forestry machinery
- Special-purpose and customised vehicles
- Mobile working machines with electric or hydrostatic auxiliary drives
- On-board drives for pumps, fans and compressors
- Attachments and interchangeable working implements
- Parking, holding and safety functions
- Vehicles with limited installation space and demanding power density requirements
The applications are highly diverse. An auxiliary unit may need to be engaged only when required. A working function must disengage reliably. An axle or attachment must remain securely held while stationary. And if a blockage occurs, the entire drivetrain should not automatically suffer damage.
Requirements for Clutches and Brakes
Mobile machinery places demanding requirements on drive technology.
- Robust operation in outdoor environments Dust, mud, moisture, crop residue and construction-site debris are part of everyday operating conditions.
- High resistance to vibration and shock Rough terrain and dynamic working movements place considerable strain on mechanical systems.
- High torque capacity Auxiliary drives and working functions must operate reliably under substantial loads.
- Compact design Installation space in vehicles and attachments is often severely restricted.
- Low power consumption Energy efficiency is particularly important in mobile and electrified machinery.
- Reliable engagement under load Drives and work implements must be connected and disconnected in a controlled manner, even at varying speeds.
- Overload protection Blockages, foreign objects and sudden load peaks must not be transmitted directly into the engine or gearbox.
- Reliable holding capability Parking, operating and maintenance positions must be secured safely.
- Resistance to temperature extremes Cold, heat and rapid temperature changes must not adversely affect functionality.
- Long service life Mobile machines must remain operational through many working hours and duty cycles.
- Low-maintenance integration Maintenance intervals should be predictable and result in minimal downtime.
- Suitable interfaces Clutches and brakes must integrate seamlessly with shafts, gearboxes, electrical systems, hydraulics and vehicle controls.
The technology must therefore be powerful yet economical, compact yet durable. Mobile drives are not sprinters; they are endurance athletes expected to perform throughout the working day.
Engage, Hold and Deliver Power
Mönninghoff develops electromagnetic clutches and brakes for mobile machinery, tailored to torque, speed, switching frequency, environmental conditions and vehicle architecture.
Electromagnetic Multi-Disc Clutches
Electromagnetic multi-disc clutches can transmit high torque in a compact design and are well suited to frequent switching operations. Depending on the application, existing speed differences between the driving and driven sides can also be accommodated.
Potential applications include
- Hydrostatic or electric auxiliary drives
- Pump, fan and compressor drives
- Working equipment in municipal and construction machinery
- Attachments and interchangeable auxiliary functions
- Drives with varying loads and operating speeds
These clutches allow power to be supplied on demand rather than continuously running auxiliary equipment unnecessarily. This helps reduce energy consumption and minimise operating hours.
Electromagnetic Tooth Clutches
Electromagnetic tooth clutches provide positive-locking engagement at high torque levels. They are particularly suitable where a clearly defined engagement state, minimal residual torque and very low backlash are required.
Typical applications include
- Engaging and disengaging auxiliary equipment
- Switching attachments and implements
- Defined connections for work and drive functions
- Precise switching where installation space is limited
- Applications requiring reliable response under load
The positive-locking connection supports direct torque transmission and can improve the precise control of working functions.
Electromagnetic Tooth Holding Brakes
Electromagnetic tooth holding brakes can positively lock axes and assemblies in place. Spring-applied or bistable operating principles can provide reliable and energy-efficient holding functions.
Potential applications include
- Parking and safety brake functions
- Holding lifting and adjustment axes
- Securing attachments during standstill
- Maintenance and setup positions
- Holding functionality during power failure
In mobile machinery, it is particularly important that reliable holding functions do not require a continuous supply of electrical power. After all, energy is never unlimited in the field.
Overload Protection Systems
Mobile machinery may encounter obstacles, foreign objects, compacted material or blocked working equipment. A properly configured overload protection system can limit or interrupt power transmission when torque exceeds a defined threshold.
Typical overload situations include
- A blocked attachment
- A foreign object entering a working implement
- A jammed conveying or cutting system
- A sudden load peak in a pump or fan drive
- Unexpected resistance during off-road operation
Depending on the application, release torque, reset behaviour and communication with the vehicle control system can all be customised. This helps ensure the machine remains operational even when conditions have other plans.
Shaft Couplings
Torsionally rigid or torsionally flexible shaft couplings can provide precise connections between engines, gearboxes, auxiliary units and working equipment. Depending on the design, they can accommodate misalignment, vibration and shock loads.
Potential applications include
- Connections between engines and auxiliary equipment
- Drives for pumps, fans and compressors
- Drive shafts in mobile attachments
- Drivetrains exposed to vibration and changing loads
- Compact vehicle architectures with limited alignment accuracy
A correctly specified shaft coupling supports efficient power transmission while helping to reduce stress on adjacent bearings, shafts and gearboxes.
Product Overview >
Mobile Technology That Keeps Going
Whether for municipal vehicles, construction equipment, agricultural machinery or specialised vehicles, Mönninghoff develops clutches, brakes, shaft couplings and overload protection systems for mobile applications that combine robustness, compact design, precision and energy efficiency.
Are you developing a mobile machine, looking to engage an auxiliary drive on demand or searching for a robust solution for high loads in limited installation space? Talk to our experts about torque, speed, environmental influences, energy consumption, overload protection and holding functions. Together, we can make your machine ready for its next assignment.
Energy Efficiency Begins with the Auxiliary Drive
Mobile machines need to use energy intelligently. An auxiliary unit that runs continuously, despite only being needed occasionally, increases fuel or power consumption, noise and wear. Switchable clutch systems can help activate functions only when required.
The following factors may be considered during design
- Required operating times of auxiliary equipment
- Torque and speed
- Switching frequency and response time
- Existing speed differentials
- Power supply and energy consumption
- Available installation space and mounting orientation
- Thermal loading
- Protection against dust, moisture and contamination
- Holding and parking functions
- Integration with vehicle controls and diagnostic systems
This enables drive technology to be matched to the actual operating cycle. After all, equipment that only operates when required only consumes power when required.
Tailored to Every Vehicle Concept
A street-cleaning vehicle faces different challenges from a wheel loader, harvesting machine or electrically powered specialist vehicle. Even within the same vehicle category, requirements for torque, functions, installation space and operating environments can vary significantly.
Design considerations may include:
- Vehicle type and duty profile
- Rated and peak torque
- Speed and differential speed during engagement
- Load changes, shock loads and potential blockages
- Daily operating hours and expected service life
- Temperature, dust, moisture and vibration
- Shaft and gearbox geometry
- Available installation space and mounting position
- Power supply and control interfaces
- Desired maintenance intervals
- Safety and holding functions
Mönninghoff develops customised clutch and brake solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing vehicle architectures.
From Prototype to Real-World Operation
Prototypes and functional test units make it possible to evaluate component performance directly within the machine or vehicle. For mobile applications in particular, testing under real operating conditions provides valuable insights.
Potential evaluation criteria include
- Switching behaviour at different speeds
- Torque transmission under varying loads
- Performance under vibration and shock loading
- Overload protection activation and reset behaviour
- Resistance to dust and moisture
- Holding and parking performance
- Energy consumption and thermal behaviour
- Endurance operation and wear characteristics
- Integration with mechanical, electrical and control systems
- Behaviour during maintenance, standstill and restart procedures
This allows solutions to be optimised specifically for the vehicle concept before series production integration begins.