The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in slotted gear clutches is driven by factors such as industrial machinery applications, innovation in transmission systems, and competitive advantage for manufacturers, and growing importance of technologies such as variable torque transfer mechanisms and advanced friction materials. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: slotted gear clutches. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Slotted gear clutches is a key innovation area in automotive
A slotted gear clutch is a type of mechanical device used to transmit torque from one shaft to another. The clutch consists of two or more mating gears with slots cut into their faces. These slots allow the gears to slide axially relative to each other, engaging and disengaging them depending on the torque requirements.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of slotted gear clutches.
Key players in slotted gear clutches – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to slotted gear clutches
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motor is one of the leading patent filers in slotted gear clutches. The company’s slotted gear clutch is a type of clutch that uses slots to improve performance. The slots allow for better lubrication and cooling, which can help to extend the life of the clutch. They also help to reduce noise and vibration. Other key patent filers in this space include Dana, Zeppelin-Stiftung and Melrose Industries.
In terms of application diversity, Musashi Seimitsu Industry leads the pack, while Siemens and Atlas Copco stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, MTD Products held the top position, followed by Atlas Copco and QinetiQ Group.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
