Horton Adds Cooling System Simulator at Carmel, Ind., Facility
Testing system measures cooling needs and verifies performance
ROSEVILLE, Minn.--Horton, Inc. has added a state-of-the-art cooling system simulator to the testing equipment at its Carmel, Ind., facility. The simulator enables Horton to imitate real-world heat-producing conditions that engines encounter while precisely measuring the cooling capacity of fan designs. When fully operational in the second quarter of 2009, the expanded capabilities will allow Horton to test not only the performance of their fan drives and fans, but also of radiators and charge air intercoolers used on virtually all sizes of on- and off-highway vehicles and equipment.
The cooling system simulator can test fan and shroud airflow, radiator cooling, intercooler (turbocharger) cooling, entire vehicle airflow and cooling performance. The resulting data allows Horton engineers to design and test fans and fan drives in the testing facility that are proven to deliver the required cooling needed for real world conditions.
"The simulator can replicate the temperature, pressure and airflow conditions of situations such as a truck hauling a large load up a hill in weather hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We then calculate the heat transfer of the cooling system, build the system, and test it to confirm that it meets or exceeds the most severe demands," says Steve Wardleworth, general manager, fans and shrouds business unit and senior vice president of operations. "It is essential that our customers have a cooling system that meets the requirements of the vehicle before the first production unit is built. This simulator ensures that the final installation will work, saving valuable time and better satisfying the end customers."
Horton's Indiana technical facility is also equipped to perform CFD (computational fluid dynamic) analysis. CFD analysis, combined with the cooling system simulator, provides a valuable testing service that will be offered to augment Horton's customers' in-house design and testing capabilities.
With more than 55 years of industry experience, commitment to service, reliability and innovation, Horton is a premium worldwide provider of fan drives, fans and suspension products. Horton's comprehensive research and development processes are driven by a dedication to exceed the industry requirements today and in the future. The company has manufacturing plants in the United States and Germany, with a licensed manufacturing facility in Australia and sales offices in the United States, Germany, Russia, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil and Australia. Horton products include VMaster® and Stratis(TM) Viscous Fan Drives, VMaster and Stratis Di Fan Drives and Controllers, DM Advantage(TM) On/Off and Two-Speed Fan Drives, WindMaster® Fans, Electromagnetic On/Off Fan Drives, DriveMaster® Spring-Engaged Fan Drives, Klondike Series® Replacement Fan Clutches for the Kysor® K26RA as well as repair kits for Kysor's K26RA, K26FA, K22RA and K22FA, PolarForce(TM) Two-Speed Conversion Kits, Genuine Horton repair kits, remanufactured fan drives and Roller Bushing Suspension Products.
