Eaton : Develops Lightweight Polymer Air Conditioning Conveyance System

HANNOVER, GERMANY … Power management company Eaton has developed new Polymer Air Conditioning Conveyance System (PACCS) lines, a cost effective and lightweight alternative to the aluminum tubing and rubber components used in traditional lines.

The PACCS lines are up to 50 percent lighter than traditional air conditioning lines, provide improved gas tightness, and are 90 percent recyclable at end of life. Composed of a blended thermoplastic material, the PACCS lines are bendable and flexible, can withstand high system pressure, and offer chemical resistance to all oils and refrigerants that are most commonly used in mobile air conditioning systems.

Other added benefits include the capability to replace formed and bulk hoses, up to 40 percent less components, and a lower assembly cost due to Eaton's 'Snap-to-Connect' system that eliminates the process of screwing traditional lines into the system.

PACCS capability covers a broad range of applications, including passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, busses, harvesters and agriculture tractors.

'This project is highly innovative and demanding from a product design point of view,' said Christophe Schorsch, manager, Advanced Products Engineering. 'It requires specific technical attributes like high thermal, mechanical and chemical performance, and is expected to start a revolution in the traditional connecting line industry by suppliers and customers. Today we are replacing traditional technology and building a new standard in the industry.'

PACCS lines have been trial tested in a vehicle that had all its air conditioning lines replaced with the new material, and thousands of test miles have been accumulated confirming above mentioned advantages over traditional air conditioning lines. PACCS currently is being tested by several customers.

Eaton has a long history of developing and producing air conditioning lines and components, including high-quality, corrosion-resistant lines for discharge, liquid and suction, internal heat exchanger lines, as well as plastic quick connectors and recently introduced ultra-low-permeation hoses that contribute to reduced fuel consumption and help curb refrigeration losses.

Eaton is a power management company with 2015 sales of $20.9 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 96,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.