Amphibious Vehicle Transmission Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle's transmission and land propulsion components are at risk of failure due to excessive torque from transition power when operating on land, as they are not designed to handle the higher power output during transitions from water to land if the operator fails to manually switch to land mode.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a transmission control module that automatically detects when the vehicle is on land and adjusts the engine output from transition power to land power to prevent excessive wear and potential failure, using sensors and a vehicle network to monitor and control the engine and transmission operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the engine produces transition power during vehicle transition from water to land, then the vehicle can operate in both water and land modes, but the transmission and land propulsion components are subjected to excessive torque beyond their design capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamphibious operation capabilityVSAvoidtransmission and land propulsion assembly reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts engine power output based on detected terrain type. When land operation is detected, the engine power is reduced from transition power level to land power level, creating a dynamic adaptation that prevents excessive torque while maintaining amphibious versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control module continuously monitors vehicle operating conditions and terrain type through sensors. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts engine power output to match the actual operational requirements, preventing harmful excessive torque on land components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the operator manually selects land mode, then the engine power is reduced to protect transmission components, but the operator may fail to timely switch modes during automatic transitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission component protectionVSAvoidmanual mode switching requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic terrain detection and power level adjustment without requiring operator intervention. The control module autonomously monitors operating conditions and switches between power levels based on detected terrain, making the system self-protecting against excessive torque conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual operator control is replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and processing logic to detect terrain type and automatically adjust engine power output, eliminating the need for manual mode switching while maintaining component protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8162704B2Amphibious vehicle and engine power control

Publication Date: 2012.04.24 ALLISON TRANSMISSION INC

AI summary

Amphibious vehicles, control modules, and methods are disclosed in which engine output power is adjusted based upon whether an amphibious vehicle is traversing land or is not traversing land. Some embodiments determine whether the amphibious vehicle is traversing land based upon a speed differential between an engine speed of the vehicle and a turbine speed of the torque converter contained within the power transfer module/transmission assembly.