A lightweight and modular design with high adaptability to transmission housing structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses a lightweight, modular, and highly adaptable transmission housing structure, comprising a front cover subassembly module, a torque converter housing subassembly module, a front support plate subassembly module, a main housing subassembly module, a rear cover subassembly module, and an oil seal housing, which are sequentially connected. The torque converter housing subassembly module is provided with a power take-off mounting interface, a power take-off idler subassembly mounting interface, and an oil passage. The front cover subassembly module is detachably connected to the torque converter housing subassembly module, and the rear cover subassembly module is detachably connected to the oil seal housing. By modularizing the transmission housing structure, the automatic transmission housing can be modularly assembled according to the user's different functional requirements for the transmission, improving its adaptability to different vehicle frames, thereby improving the automatic transmission's responsiveness to market demand.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of transmissions and relates to a highly adaptable transmission housing structure with a lightweight and modular design. Background Art

[0002] The new generation of commercial vehicle drivers are increasingly making distinct purchasing decisions based on their individual needs for vehicle features (such as driving comfort, enjoyment, and ease of operation) and information comparison (such as vehicle configuration and price / performance). This forces commercial vehicle manufacturers to no longer rely on a single or limited model strategy to meet customer demand when developing new models. Instead, they must rapidly develop a comprehensive range of models tailored to the needs of diverse buyer groups based on market feedback, even assembling and producing models with specific features tailored to specific needs. This places even stricter demands on the modular design and production of commercial vehicle components. For automatic transmissions (such as AMTs and ATs), a core component in commercial vehicles, modular design and high compatibility with the vehicle chassis are particularly important. Furthermore, commercial vehicle customers are experiencing a surge in demand for low fuel consumption and low pollutant emissions. Lightweight vehicle design is an effective way to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, and lightweighting of automatic transmissions is a key solution. Currently, insufficient consideration of automatic transmission lightweight design, high adaptability across a range of vehicle models, and modular design results in high costs and long development cycles for the subsequent series development of existing automatic transmissions. This in turn hinders the ability to quickly and effectively respond to the adaptation requirements of OEMs for series models with different functionalities, often developed based on the base vehicle. This in turn leads to significant duplication of development and design work within the same series of automatic transmissions, long design cycles, high development and production costs, and slow responsiveness to market changes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem in the prior art that transmission products cannot quickly respond to the adaptation requirements of different functional vehicle models, resulting in long product later development cycle and high cost, and to provide a highly adaptable transmission housing structure with a lightweight and modular design.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] A lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure comprises a front cover subassembly module, a torque converter housing subassembly module, a front support plate subassembly module, a main housing subassembly module, a rear cover subassembly module and an oil seal housing, which are connected in sequence;

[0006] The torque converter housing subassembly module is provided with a power take-off mounting interface, a power take-off idler wheel subassembly mounting interface and an oil channel. The front cover subassembly module and the torque converter housing subassembly module are detachably connected, and the rear cover subassembly module and the oil seal seat housing are detachably connected.

[0007] A further improvement of the present invention is:

[0008] The torque converter housing sub-assembly module is used to install the power take-off through the power take-off installation interface, and is used to install the power take-off idler sub-assembly through the power take-off idler sub-assembly installation interface.

[0009] The power take-off is installed with the power take-off mounting interface via bolts, and the power take-off idler sub-assembly is installed with the power take-off idler sub-assembly mounting interface via bolts.

[0010] The power take-off is connected to the fine filter subassembly module via a connecting oil pipe.

[0011] The retarder subassembly module is installed on the front support plate subassembly module, and the accumulator subassembly module is installed on the main housing subassembly module. The accumulator subassembly module and the retarder subassembly module are connected through an oil pipe.

[0012] The retarder sub-assembly module is mounted on the front support plate sub-assembly module through bolts, and the accumulator sub-assembly module is mounted on the main housing sub-assembly module through an annular fastener.

[0013] The torque converter housing suspension structure is symmetrically provided on both sides of the torque converter housing sub-assembly module, the main housing suspension structure is symmetrically provided on both sides of the main housing sub-assembly module, and the rear cover suspension structure is symmetrically provided on both sides of the rear cover sub-assembly module.

[0014] The torque converter housing suspension structure, the main housing suspension structure and the rear cover suspension structure are all connected to the vehicle frame through bolts.

[0015] The main housing sub-assembly module is provided with a reinforcing rib structure on the inner bottom side, and a reinforcing rib structure is provided on the left side wall of the outer end surface of the main housing sub-assembly module.

[0016] The rear cover sub-assembly module is provided with reinforcing rib structures both inside and outside.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The present invention proposes a lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure. By modularizing the transmission housing structure, the automatic transmission housing can be modularly assembled according to the user's different functional requirements for the transmission and improve its adaptability to different vehicle frames, thereby improving the response speed of the automatic transmission to market demand.

[0019] Furthermore, by simultaneously adding suspension structures to the torque converter housing subassembly module, the main housing subassembly module and the rear cover subassembly module, the adaptability between the automatic transmission and the vehicle frame is improved, providing more sufficient space and optional options for other components of the vehicle frame.

[0020] Furthermore, by adopting a combination of reinforcing rib structures and thin-wall structures inside the main housing of the automatic transmission and reinforcing rib structures inside and outside the rear cover housing of the automatic transmission, a lightweight design of the automatic transmission housing is achieved, meeting the rigid demand of market customers for energy conservation and emission reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a front view of a basic automatic transmission;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a top view of a basic automatic transmission;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the basic automatic transmission torque converter housing;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the front support plate assembly of a basic automatic transmission;

[0026] Figure 5 This is the right front view of an automatic transmission with a power take-off;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a diagram of the torque converter housing assembly of an automatic transmission with a power take-off;

[0028] Figure 7 It is the left front view of the automatic transmission with retarder;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a diagram of the front support plate assembly of an automatic transmission with a retarder;

[0030] Figure 9 It is the left front view of the automatic transmission without front cover;

[0031] Figure 10 This is an internal view of the main housing of a basic automatic transmission;

[0032] Figure 11 This is the left front view of the main housing of the basic automatic transmission;

[0033] Figure 12 This is an inside view of the base automatic transmission rear cover housing;

[0034] Figure 13 This is a view of the outside of the base automatic transmission rear cover housing.

[0035] Among them: 1-front cover subassembly module; 2-torque converter housing subassembly module; 3-front support plate subassembly module; 4-main housing subassembly module; 5-rear cover subassembly module; 6-oil seal seat housing; 7-torque converter housing suspension structure; 8-oil channel; 9-main housing suspension structure; 10-rear cover suspension structure; 11-fine filter subassembly module; 12-power take-off installation interface; 13-power take-off idler pulley subassembly installation interface; 1 4-Power take-off; 15-Connecting oil pipe; 16-Power take-off idler subassembly; 17-Accumulator subassembly module; 18-Retarder subassembly module; 19-Torque converter subassembly; 20-Torque converter housing bolt hole base; 21-Inner bottom side reinforcement structure of main housing; 22-Left part reinforcement structure of main housing; 23-Thin-wall structure of main housing; 24-Inner reinforcement structure of rear cover housing; 25-External reinforcement structure of rear cover housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0037] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but rather merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if the terms "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "inner," etc. appear, the orientation or positional relationship indicated is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the inventive product is typically placed when in use. These terms are merely for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0040] In addition, if the term "horizontal" appears, it does not mean that the component must be absolutely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" only means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical", and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0041] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0042] The present invention aims to enhance the modular design, vehicle frame compatibility, and lightweight design of automatic transmission housings. This allows modular assembly of automatic transmission housings based on customer requirements for different functionalities, improving compatibility with different vehicle frames and thereby improving the automatic transmission's responsiveness to market demands. Furthermore, it reduces the cost of developing and producing supporting housings during the serialized development and production of automatic transmissions, shortening the development and production cycle. Furthermore, it optimizes the structural design and layout of the automatic transmission housing and its mounting, thereby improving compatibility with the vehicle frame and achieving lightweighting.

[0043] The present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0044] See also Figure 1-Figure 3Figure 2 shows the structure of a basic automatic transmission. Through modular design, the automatic transmission housing is divided into six modular components: front cover subassembly module 1, torque converter housing subassembly module 2, front support plate subassembly module 3, main housing subassembly module 4, rear cover subassembly module 5, and oil seal housing 6. By partially modifying the housings of different modules of the basic automatic transmission and installing corresponding components or subassemblies, automatic transmissions with different functional models can be assembled. This enriches the range of models and functions within the automatic transmission product line and improves the automatic transmission's responsiveness to changing market demands. Furthermore, this "partial structural modification of the housings of different modules combined with the installation of corresponding components / subassemblies" approach shortens the development cycle for the series production of automatic transmissions, improves market response, and ultimately reduces R&D and production costs. The basic automatic transmission housing includes a front cover subassembly module 1, a torque converter housing subassembly module 2, a front support plate subassembly module 3, a main housing subassembly module 4, a rear cover subassembly module 5 and an oil seal seat housing 6 which are connected in sequence; the torque converter housing subassembly module 2 is provided with a power take-off mounting interface 12, a power take-off idler subassembly mounting interface 13 and an oil channel 8, the front cover subassembly module 1 and the torque converter housing subassembly module 2 are detachably connected, and the rear cover subassembly module 5 and the oil seal seat housing 6 are detachably connected.

[0045] See also Figure 5-Figure 6 , a schematic diagram of the structure of an automatic transmission with a power take-off. By machining the torque converter housing in the torque converter housing subassembly module 2, the power take-off mounting interface 12 and the power take-off idler subassembly mounting interface 13 are positioned and machined to the design requirements. The power take-off idler subassembly 16 is bolted to the power take-off idler subassembly mounting interface 13. The power take-off 14 is bolted to the power take-off mounting interface 12, and the power take-off 14 is connected to the fine filter subassembly module 11 via a connecting oil pipe 15. In this way, a basic automatic transmission is transformed into one with a power take-off by simply machining the base automatic transmission's torque converter housing. Throughout this process, only the base automatic transmission's torque converter housing undergoes partial machining, while all other components of the base automatic transmission remain unchanged.

[0046] See also Figure 7-Figure 8, a schematic diagram of the structure of a retarder-type automatic transmission, illustrates the process of partially machining the front support plate within the front support plate subassembly module 3 to meet the design requirements for mounting the retarder subassembly module 18. The reserved oil passage 8 in the base automatic transmission torque converter housing is also machined. Subsequently, the retarder subassembly module 18 is bolted to the front support plate subassembly module 3. The accumulator subassembly module 17 is mounted on the housing of the main housing subassembly module 4, and the retarder subassembly 18 and accumulator subassembly module 17 are connected via oil pipes to form a complete system. In this way, simply machining the base automatic transmission torque converter housing and the front support plate transforms the base automatic transmission into a retarder-type automatic transmission. Throughout this process, only the base automatic transmission torque converter housing and the front support plate undergo partial machining, while all other components of the base automatic transmission remain unchanged.

[0047] See also Figure 9 , a schematic diagram of a front-coverless automatic transmission. This is achieved by removing the base automatic transmission front cover subassembly module 1 and machining bolt holes in the torque converter housing bolt hole base 20 of the torque converter subassembly 19. This not only expands the automatic transmission's engine connection options but also satisfies the need for a smaller axial installation space for the automatic transmission in commercial vehicles, facilitating overall vehicle design. Furthermore, by eliminating the base automatic transmission oil seal housing 6 and installing the central brake subassembly, further product models based on the base automatic transmission can be developed.

[0048] By symmetrically placing torque converter housing suspension structures 7 on either side of the torque converter housing subassembly module 2, main housing suspension structures 9 on either side of the main housing subassembly module 4, and rear cover suspension structures 10 on either side of the rear cover subassembly module 5, the automatic transmission's compatibility with the vehicle is optimized. Bolting all suspension structures to the vehicle frame effectively reduces stress concentration. Using a modular, partially bolted suspension structure provides ample space for other frame components, further enhancing the automatic transmission's compatibility with the vehicle.

[0049] See also Figure 10-12, a schematic diagram of a reinforcing rib structure is provided for the main housing and the rear cover housing. In the main housing sub-assembly 4, a reinforcing rib structure 21 is designed for the inner bottom side of the main housing, a reinforcing rib mechanism 22 is designed for the left end face of the main housing, and a thin-walled structure design is adopted for the inner wall of the main housing. At the same time, reinforcing rib structures are designed for both the inside and the outside of the rear cover housing. Under the premise of meeting the structural strength design requirements of the automatic transmission housing, not only the lightweight design of the housing is achieved, but also the housing structure form is richer and the functions are more complete. The lightweight structure design adopted for the transmission main housing and the rear cover meets the needs of energy conservation and emission reduction under the premise of meeting the functional requirements of basic installation.

[0050] By utilizing a modular assembly design for the automatic transmission housing and a design method that includes a pre-installed mounting structure, this invention enables the rapid development of multiple product lines based on a base automatic transmission with varying functions and engine connection methods. This allows for rapid response to market demand and shortens the development cycle and production costs of serialized products. Furthermore, by simultaneously adding suspension structures to the torque converter housing, main housing, and rear cover housing, the automatic transmission's compatibility with the vehicle frame is improved, providing ample space and options for other frame components. A combination of multiple reinforcing ribs and thin-walled structures within the main housing, as well as reinforcing ribs inside and outside the rear cover housing, achieves a lightweight design for the automatic transmission housing, meeting the stringent market demands for energy conservation and emission reduction. Through various assembly options, the base automatic transmission can be expanded into multiple automatic transmission products with varying vehicle connection methods and functions, enriching the product line, reducing development costs, and accelerating responsiveness to changing market demands.

[0051] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure, characterized in that: It comprises a front cover subassembly module (1), a torque converter housing subassembly module (2), a front support plate subassembly module (3), a main housing subassembly module (4), a rear cover subassembly module (5) and an oil seal seat housing (6) which are connected in sequence; The torque converter housing subassembly module (2) is provided with a power take-off mounting interface (12), a power take-off idler wheel subassembly mounting interface (13) and an oil passage (8); the front cover subassembly module (1) and the torque converter housing subassembly module (2) are detachably connected; and the rear cover subassembly module (5) and the oil seal seat housing (6) are detachably connected; By installing a power take-off (14) on the power take-off mounting interface (12) of the torque converter housing sub-assembly module (2), and installing the power take-off idler sub-assembly (16) through the power take-off idler sub-assembly mounting interface (13), an automatic transmission structure with a power take-off is obtained; By installing a retarder sub-assembly module (18) on the front support plate sub-assembly module (3), installing an accumulator sub-assembly module (17) on the main housing sub-assembly module (4), and connecting the accumulator sub-assembly module (17) and the retarder sub-assembly module (18) via an oil pipe, a retarder-type automatic transmission structure is obtained; The torque converter housing sub-assembly module (2) is symmetrically provided with a torque converter housing suspension structure (7), the main housing sub-assembly module (4) is symmetrically provided with a main housing suspension structure (9), and the rear cover sub-assembly module (5) is symmetrically provided with a rear cover suspension structure (10).

2. A lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The power take-off (14) is mounted to the power take-off mounting interface (12) via bolts, and the power take-off idler sub-assembly (16) is mounted to the power take-off idler sub-assembly mounting interface (13) via bolts.

3. The lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power take-off (14) is connected to the fine filter sub-assembly module (11) via a connecting oil pipe (15).

4. The lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retarder sub-assembly module (18) is mounted on the front support plate sub-assembly module (3) via bolts, and the accumulator sub-assembly module (17) is mounted on the main housing sub-assembly module (4) via annular fasteners.

5. The lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The torque converter housing suspension structure (7), the main housing suspension structure (9) and the rear cover suspension structure (10) are all connected to the vehicle frame via bolts.

6. The lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main housing sub-assembly module (4) is provided with a reinforcing rib structure on the inner bottom side, and a reinforcing rib structure is provided on the left side wall of the outer end surface of the main housing sub-assembly module (4).

7. The lightweight and modularly designed highly adaptable transmission housing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear cover sub-assembly module (5) is provided with reinforcing rib structures both inside and outside.

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