Automatic Manual Transmission with Variable Ratio Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic manual transmissions for cars with internal combustion engines face challenges of increased size, weight, and cost due to the number of gears and locking devices required, making them unsuitable for high-performance vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a servo-assisted clutch, a gearbox with a variable transmission ratio device that adjusts between two ratios, and an electronic control unit to manage gear shifts, allowing for a high number of gears with reduced size, weight, and cost by using fewer pairs of gears and locking devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of gears is increased to provide more speed ratios, then the transmission capability is improved, but the size, weight and cost of the gearbox increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can lock different numbers of gears (2, 3, or 4 gears) to the shaft simultaneously, allowing a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate locking mechanisms. This multi-functionality enables the gearbox to achieve high adaptability with reduced weight and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device incorporates a movable element that can be positioned at different locations along the shaft, allowing it to selectively engage with different gears. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same locking device to adapt to various gear configurations without requiring separate fixed locking mechanisms for each gear position
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of gears is increased to provide more speed ratios, then the transmission capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can lock different numbers of gears (2, 3, or 4 gears) to the shaft simultaneously, allowing a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate locking mechanisms. This multi-functionality enables the gearbox to achieve high adaptability with reduced weight and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple locking functions are merged into a single locking device structure. The device combines the capabilities of what would traditionally be separate locking mechanisms into one integrated component, reducing the overall number of parts and simplifying the gearbox construction
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of gears is increased to provide more speed ratios, then the transmission capability is improved, but the cost of the gearbox increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can lock different numbers of gears (2, 3, or 4 gears) to the shaft simultaneously, allowing a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate locking mechanisms. This multi-functionality enables the gearbox to achieve high adaptability with reduced weight and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple locking functions are merged into a single locking device structure. The device combines the capabilities of what would traditionally be separate locking mechanisms into one integrated component, reducing the overall number of parts and simplifying the gearbox construction
Data Source
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AI summary
An automatic manual transmission (7) for a car (1) provided with an internal combustion engine (5); the automatic manual transmission (7) has: a mechanical gearbox (10) provided with at least one primary shaft (11), at least one secondary shaft (13), a plurality of pairs (I, II, III, IV) of gears (16, 17) and a plurality of locking devices (18), actuated by first actuators (19); a variable ratio transmission device (21), which is arranged upstream of the primary shaft (14) and is adjustable to have two different transmission ratios: a first unitary direct drive transmission ratio and a second multiplying transmission ratio; and a second actuator (22), which is coupled to the transmission device (21) to vary the transmission ratio of the transmission device (21) itself.