Automotive

Engineering Expertise
 Automotive
Engine

Engineering Expertise
In automobile production centers around the world –
whether in Europe, North or South America, Asia or any-
where else – not a single vehicle would roll off the produc-
Transmission

tion line without a strong supplier industry.

For over 50 years, INA components and systems have
ensured that automobiles achieve higher technical precision,
are safer and provide longer service life. We attain this by
constantly analyzing existing solutions, forging new ideas,
and developing products that are better than those of the
past.
And so it’s not just a coincidence that the world’s leading
automotive manufacturers combine forces with us from the
very beginning of a new vehicle design.
Chassis

Automotive engineering expertise. Our mission is to be your

“go to” engineering partner.
Interior
Valve train

The Engines
of the future...
Today’s modern engines must meet
much higher demands than those of
just 10 years ago. This is mainly due to
the fact that the interests of individual
mobility, the environment and economy
are often in conflict. INA components
help reconcile these factors.
In many cases, INA recognized and
implemented new trends ahead of the
rest of the industry. Take the 1960s, for
example, when INA systematically
pursued the in-depth development of
hydraulic engine components. Viewed
skeptically at first by many, these
components are manufactured today
with the cold forming process, which
allows them to be produced economi-
cally in large quantities.
Additionally, we continue to focus our
attention on environmental issues. This
applies not only for applications in the
vehicle, but also for manufacturing
processes.
And because recycling our products is
a priority today, our responsibility has
come full circle.
INA engine expertise. For the power-
train of the future.

Mechanical and hydraulic bucket tappets.

The right solution for contemporary engine design
Engine timing drive and accessory drive

...and their drive

components from INA...
INA provides many imaginative and crea- initial setting of tension. Since the resulting
tive solutions for the timing drive. Chain system is maintenance-free, value is ad-
drive and belt drive tensioners optimize ded for both the OEM and the end user.
the tension of the timing drive system.
System design is now more important
Vibrations are effectively dampened, and
than ever. Many synergetic benefits are
variations in length are automatically com-
derived from alliances with other compa-
pensated. The result is smooth and effi-
nies. An example is ContiTech, a well-
cient running.
known name in belt manufacturing.
For accessory drives we can offer similar Through our joint efforts, we have short-
advantages. Hydraulic and mechanical ten- ened development time while simulta-
sioning systems maintain the belt at a spe- neously reducing costs.
cified tension level to prevent vibration. This
We are interested to know
is particularly important if high demands are
what we can do for you. Put
placed on running characteristics or for en-
our application technology
gines that are especially rough running
and development expertise
(such as diesel engines). The INA overrun-
to work on your custom
ning alternator pulley is an additional factor
design from initial concept to
for smooth running in the belt system.
volume production.
We have designed these compo-
nents as complete bolt-on
units. This greatly
simplifies instal-
lation and

Greater reliability and reduced noise levels.

Mechanical belt tensioning unit for synchronous
belts

The INA overrunning alternator device reduces

torsional vibrations in the belt drive, especially
useful for diesel and DI engines
Engine compartment accessories

...the other components

we have to offer...
When INA introduces innovative solu-
tions for engine components, it is often
the result of intensive joint efforts with
our customers. Even in the planning
phase of a new project, we often make
significant contributions ensuring
success.
We are equally proud of our manu-
facturing expertise – whether it’s in
laser welding, precision grinding or
cold forming. Using state-of-the-art Support roller with thick-walled, drawn outer
ring for high piston loads in an ABS pump
manufacturing methods, we produce
high-precision components to meet
the constantly increasing demands of
our customers.
This applies for the starter, the alterna- Special ball bearing for orbital movement in a
tor, ABS or ASR systems, and equally scroll air-conditioning compressor
for the injection pump, the throttle body
or the many other engine components.
Put us to the test. There are likely more
INA products for modern engines than
you might have thought.
We will also be on the lookout for new
High precision deep drawn components and
challenges in the future, and we will shafts for diesel injection systems
develop innovations to respond to
those challenges. INA components and
systems can be relied upon to make
everything run smoothly – throughout
the entire vehicle. Axial needle bearing cage with races
 Valve train
...and how to opti-
mize performance
INA’s hydraulic and mechanical engine
components help reduce fuel consump-
tion in our vehicles significantly.
Take for example the INA roller-type finger
follower with hydraulic pivot element.
Precisely controlled valve clearances in
the valve train ensure smooth running
and low exhaust emissions. Reduced
friction provides for increased efficiency
and higher durability.
With our state-of-the-art manufacturing
Our hydraulic camshaft phaser allows methods – such as laser welding – we can
infinitely variable valve timing. This pro- cost-effectively manufacture the INA bucket
tappet in mass production
vides not only a positive influence on
torque characteristics, but also re-
duces fuel consumption and exhaust
emissions while improving idle speed
smoothness.
It will not be long before our switchable
hydraulic components allow the opti-
mum adjustment of engine operation
to any given traffic conditions.
That’s why it makes sense that
leading car manufacturers work with Hydraulic camshaft phaser with timing chain INA center-pivot rocker arm with anti-friction
us in joint efforts. After all, INA has an sprocket. Its job: to ensure precise and bearings for reduced friction in OHV engines
continual adjustment for valve timing with
outstanding worldwide reputation as a large torsional angle
a reliable development partner for
hydraulic engine components.

Super efficient engines are on the horizon. And innovative INA components
are making their contribution
Automatic transmission

Creative solutions from INA for

the automatic gearbox...
Individual mobility on the one hand and Especially for this applica-
increased environmental awareness tion, we have developed
on the other influence the design of several heat treating and sur-
today’s automatic transmissions. face coating processes. The
Criteria such as efficiency, acoustics, most cost effictive and appropriate
service life and serviceability play a is chosen depending on the specific
major role here. INA antifriction bear- situation.
ings and components help meet these
And what would today’s automatic
requirements.
transmissions be without INA overrun-
Take for example the highly stressed ning clutches? Shifting and lockout are
bearing for planetary gears. Centrifugal completely independent – without ad-
forces can occur which are the equi- ditional shift elements.
valent of 3,000 times the acceleration
Another example is INA axial needle
of gravity. INA has developed needle
roller bearings. Despite limited envelope,
roller assemblies in various cage
these bearings have very high load
profiles and high strength steels which
carrying capacity and can be combi-
can withstand such extreme loading.
ned with INA radial needle roller
bearings. Also provided are assembly
features to facilitate installation for our
customers.
Yet our engineers are never satisfied
with their achievements. They are al-
ready thinking today about compo-
nents for the automatic transmission of
tomorrow. It’s a fact: Any solution can
be improved upon.

Specially designed bearings

for controlling oil flow

INA planetary gear bearings – an advanced

engineering development from two-stroke engine
technology.They can withstand more than
3,000 times the acceleration of gravity

Sprag and roller overrunning clutches in

various designs for high torque capacity
Clutch

…for smooth
clutch actuation…
We have worked for over 25 years on And if our hydraulic clutch actuation
optimizing the power transmission system as a retro fit unit makes
interface between the engine and installation much easier today, the
transmission. INA has produced many question must be asked: Who has
pioneering solutions in this area. really done the most in the last 25 years
for clutch release systems?
The self-centering clutch release
bearing and the lever stabilizer are only
two examples. The design not only
increases smoothness and service life,
but also reduces vibrations transmitted
to the pedal, thereby lowering passen-
ger compartment noise. Because we
engineer entire systems, we have also
developed a special grease to meet the
extreme lubrication demands of clutch
release bearings. As a result, it was
possible to increase service life by
almost 100%.

Roller bearing with integrated shaft seal and

guide sleeve for release bearing

The INA hydraulic damper effectively reduces

the level of transmitted vibration

For smoother clutch control and longer service

life: INA release systems

For smoother shifting in manual transmissions

– the INA slave cylinder

The INA peak-torque limiter regulates maximum

clutch engagement speed, thus preventing
damage to the transmission, driveshaft and axle
Drive train

...and efficient
transfer of power...
From our needle bearing to the latest
developments for automotive trans-
missions, there is a wide range of INA
solutions. For example, there is the
special axle support ball bearing or the
ready-to-install shift system – the INA
gearshift module. Today’s drive trains
already contain a number of INA
components – there will be even more
tomorrow.
INA also offers many custom-made
solutions for other areas of the drive
train. For example, tripod rollers for
fixed or sliding joints in the half shaft are
designed to ensure efficient power
transmission even at severe operating We support automotive manufacturers right from the INA half shaft support bearing – a ready-to-
angles. beginning in developing new products. install, corrosion-protected solution for
Here for example is an FE analysis of a universal joint half shaft bearings
with INA universal joint bearings
From the beginning, we have always
taken our customers’ requirements into
consideration. INA’s quality commitment
includes carefully designed monitoring
systems in our manufacturing processes
to ensure that defects do not occur in the
first place. The proof is our certification in
compliance with standards QS 9000
and VDA 6.1.
We believe that this commitment to
quality provides the best background
for successful joint efforts. INA tripod rollers. The perfect solution for
assembly

INA drawn race bearings for half shafts.

Bearing seal and mounting are integrated
 Manual transmission
...and in the manual
gearbox.
An important consideration in trans-
mission design has always been the
reduction of weight and space claim.
This was true almost 50 years ago
when the INA cage and needle roller
assembly made it possible to build
much smaller transmissions. This still
applies today, and is true for all
bearings, whether caged needle roller
assemblies are used, or drawn cup
roller or ball bearings.
INA link with integrated locking element.
Perfect precision-blanking and bending
INA is also the right development technology
partner for the automotive industry
when gear shifting must be as smooth
as possible.
When automotive manufacturers develop new
For example, when you downshift from transmissions, INA is involved – from the beginning
second to first, the shift should be
smooth and precise. INA synchronizer
intermediate rings make this possible
thanks to high dimensional accuracy and
precisely defined surface roughness.
Since we are also deeply involved in
state-of-the-art manufacturing tech-
nology (high-precision grinding and Various versions of shift detents
honing processes, for instance), this
poses no problem for us. The result:
you can shift from second to first
quickly and quietly.
Bearings for gear-selector shafts and rails for
But we are already thinking a step axial or rotational and axial movement
ahead – complete external and internal
shift elements, for example. And when
future electronically controlled clutch
management systems ensure that fuel
consumption continues to fall, we at
INA will have contributed our share.

The appropriate cage and needle-roller assem-

bly for every application
Chassis

Always on the right track with

INA components...
Our engineers have made sure that driv-
ing comfort is not neglected. Beyond
that, an optimally tuned chassis and
precise steering system ensure that the
vehicle responds exactly to driver input
in hazardous situations.
The future certainly belongs to the
“smart” chassis which can adjust to
varying conditions. With the increasing
functionality of the overall unit, the sig-
nificance of the anti-friction bearings Encapsulated axial bearing for use in MacPherson
strut support
also becomes greater.
Technology and safety are not the only
important factors. We also consider
economic factors. Limited construc-
INA and plastics? No problem. We process many
tion space, simple installation, mainte- polymer materials – the INA MacPherson strut
nance-free components and system bearing housing, for example, is made of synthetic
material. And there are more good ideas where that
design are just a few of the criteria met came from
by INA components.
Consider for example our INA Mac-
Pherson strut bearing. This bearing
can absorb radial and axial forces and
is a ready-to-install, sealed unit which Full-needle sleeve with filigree cage for
maximum stress in the steering gear and
is specifically designed for your appli- heavy-duty steering knuckles
cation and ideal for robot assembly
lines.
As you can see, you’re on the right
track with INA when you’re looking for
chassis systems.
 Brakes
...safety first
at all times...
What does INA have to do with vehicle
safety? As it turns out, our engineers
frequently prove to be an important
driving force for cutting edge solutions
here as well.
One example is the INA sensor rings.
Hidden away neatly, they do their job in
the anti-lock brake or traction control
systems. They guarantee that a sensor
detects whether a wheel is locking,
spinning or gripping the road surface.
As a result of an innovative tool design,
we have been able to achieve an
extraordinary level of dimensional
accuracy. Using sensors intended for
With today’s cars and trucks, safety is a prime
the vehicle, each sensor ring is concern. And INA is making a significant contribution
checked individually. After all, the
precise operation of the entire system
depends on it. To ensure that safety
does not fall victim to corrosion, we
provide these sensor rings with our
proven Corrotect® anticorrosion pro-
tection.
Together with our customers, INA
engineers have developed a brake ad-
justing unit for heavy duty vehicles with
disk brakes. This unit ensures that the
gap between the disk and pads remains In conjunction with ABS, the heavy-duty
constant, thus maintaining optimal brake-adjusting unit ensures constant braking
efficiency
braking efficiency.
Our design engineers have taken INA segment bearing for lever support in brake
adventage of cutting edge technologies disks on heavy-duty vehicles
for the manufacture of our products.
In the future, play it safe with your de-
sign and see what we can do for you.
 Interior
...and performance
you can count on every time.
Today, people are spending more and
more time in their cars. As a result,
interior comfort must also meet
standards. For this reason, many car
manufacturers place their trust in INA
interior components as well.
Take our patented seat height ad-
juster, for instance. Positioning that is
infinitely adjustable, precise and smooth
is the key here. INA has developed a
roller clutch assembly which can be The steering column can be easily and conve- With the ELGES ball pins, roadster’s
niently adjusted using INA components convertible top closes rapidly and simply
fixed and released in both directions.
The operating principle is very similar to
that of a transmission overrunning
clutch. An economical and elegant
solution.
The contours of a roadster convertible
are also very elegant. To prevent them
from being disturbed by a rigid roll bar,
the bar only appears when it is actual-
ly needed. We have equipped the two
pivot points with maintenance-free
ELGES pivot bearings, which move the
For optimum protection in the event of rollover:
roll bar rapidly and safely into position. maintenance-free ELGES pivot bearings in a
roadster roll bar
With narrow, full complement needle
bearings, our engineers have also
found a creative solution for backrest
adjustment – and not merely because
they allow simple and easy positioning.
These bearings can even withstand a
crash without being damaged, thus
ensuring backrest stability. This is a
crucial factor for safety.
INA bearings for the vehicle’s interior
performance can be counted on every
time. Space-saving bearings for
backrest adjustment

The INA roller clutch assembly ensures precise

and infinitely-variable seat positioning
 Steering
...the steering
system is well
in hand...
Whether the steering column is rigid or
has angular or longitudinal adjustment,
comfort must be provided. The system
must be easy, precise, quiet and
extremely low in torque.
INA offers full complement or cage-
guided angular contact ball bearings.
This proven arrangement with two
bearings has many advantages, such
as great rigidity and low frictional
torque on the one hand and easy,
economical installation on the other.
Since these ball bearings are manu-
factured through metal forming, they
are also particularly cost-effective.
Clearance-free needle bearings are fre-
quently used with rigid or angle-adjust-
able steering columns. Rubber tolerance
rings help compensate tolerances
occurring with steering housing tubes.
This is cost saving because the steering
shaft and housing tube no longer require
special manufacturing.
Or you can select clearance-free INA
four-point angular contact ball bear-
ings, which are especially advantage-
ous for steering columns with longitu-
dinal adjustment. These fixed bearings
absorb the axial forces generated in a
crash, thus providing additional safety.
Depending on requirements, these
highly rigid components can also be
combined with needle bearings to
complete a fixed floating configuration.
Working together, we can achive the
optimum solution.
IPH assembly machine for universal joints
You may have heard about INA univer-
sal joint bearings. After all, hardly a car
manufacturer in the world does not use
these drawn cup needle roller bear-
ings. Incidentally, the assembly process
is also from INA. This unequaled cost
effective process is the only one which
allows universal joint guidance without
axial clearance or additional fastening
elements. And if you’d like, we can also
build the assembly machine for you.
With INA components, the steering
system is well in hand. Needle bearing with tolerance ring
used with drawn housing for tubes.
Tolerances are effectively compensated for

INA four-point ball bearing and angular contact

ball bearing with integrated mounting features
Coming
full circle.
For over 50 years we at INA have
demonstrated our commitment to the
automotive industry. Our customers
and the entire automotive industry
have benefited from our innovative
technical solutions.
If your current planning includes a new
vehicle design, we can provide help even
before the kickoff. Over 400 specialists at
INA engineering centers in Germany,
France, Great Britain, the USA and Brazil
are available to implement new product
ideas – together with you. Of course,
state-of-the-art methods such as dynamic
simulation and FE analysis are employed There will be individual mobility in the future Dynamic simulation of a belt drive – suphisticated
only if the automobile can exist in harmony computer programs calculate the dynamic behavior
in the design and modeling phase. with nature. INA is making a significant contri- of INA components in operation
bution.The European Union environmental
Once a prototype is available, the most certification is proof
important period for the new product un-
doubtedly begins with the validation
phase. Even before the green light is given
for volume production. Initial bench test-
ing takes place in our modern, high-tech
testing facilities, which include an envi-
ronment simulation chamber and test
stands for internal combustion engines.
We manufacture our products in compli-
ance with the quality criteria of the auto-
mobile industry as defined by standards Acoustic analysis of an engine in a annechoic
chamber INA testing facilities are
QS 9000 and VDA 6.1. Our commitment equipped with state-of-the-art technology
to quality is successfully proven by the
many awards which we, as suppliers, Before the individual components are actually
manufactured, we can optimize shape, weight
have received from our customers. and rigidity using finite element analyses

However, today’s producers are also

responsible for the disposal of their prod-
ucts in an environmentally responsible
manner. Environmental protection is a
long tradition at INA. Long before the
subject was an everyday topic, it was
one of our company objectives. The
European Union environmental certifi-
cation and our membership in the
Partslife System for workshop disposal
demonstrate our commitment.
So we have come full circle, from the
initial ideas to the disposal of used
components. Our mission is to help
you – allow us to become your “go to”
engineering partner.