Actuator Device Selector Shaft Merging for Gearbox Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing actuator devices for motor vehicle transmissions are complex and costly, lacking a simple and cost-effective design that allows for quick gear selection and setting, particularly in double-clutch transmissions where multiple gears need to be selected simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

The actuator device features selector shafts that can move independently in one direction and are fixed in another, with each shaft having its own first actuating device for position adjustment and a shared second actuating device for shifting between positions, reducing the number of required actuating devices while maintaining the ability to select and set multiple gears simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If each selector shaft is assigned its own first actuating device and a second actuating device, then each shaft can be independently adjusted, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent adjustment capabilityVSAvoidNumber of actuating devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the second actuating device function across all selector shafts by implementing a common second actuating device that controls multiple selector shafts simultaneously. This combining approach reduces the total number of actuating devices while maintaining the ability to perform synchronized operations, directly resolving the contradiction between operational independence and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the actuating function into two distinct levels: individual first actuating devices for each selector shaft that provide independent position adjustment, and a shared second actuating device that provides common control for synchronized operations. This segmentation allows each component to have a specialized function, reducing overall complexity while preserving operational capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple second actuating devices are provided for each selector shaft, then synchronized shifting can be achieved, but the cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSpeed of gear selectionVSAvoidNumber of actuating devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the second actuating device function into a single shared unit that controls multiple selector shafts simultaneously. This merging enables synchronized shifting operations across all shafts using one actuating device, achieving high productivity in gear selection while avoiding the complexity and cost of multiple separate second actuating devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common second actuating device is designed with multi-functionality to control multiple selector shafts for different gear selection operations. This universal device can perform various shifting tasks across different shafts, maintaining high productivity while reducing the total number of actuating devices required in the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2976555B1Actuator device for a gearbox of a motor vehicle and corresponding gearbox for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 AUDI AG
  • EP2976555B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2976555B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2976555B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An actuator device for a gearbox of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of selector shafts, which can each be displaced in a first direction between a plurality of selection positions and in a second direction between a plurality of shifting positions and which each have a connecting element that is operatively connected-in at least one of the selection positions with at least one selector rail of the gearbox for transferring a movement of the selector shaft in the second direction onto the selector rail. The selector shafts are mounted relative to each other so as to be movable relative to one another in the first direction and are fixed to relative to each other in the section direction, wherein the selection positions of the selector shafts are independently adjustable by means of a plurality of first adjusting elements, and wherein the selector shafts can be displaced together between the shifting positions by means of a second adjusting element.