Articulated Bus Segmented Drive System for Incline Performance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Articulated buses face limitations in routes with inclines due to overheating and reduced performance, and their configuration requires a large fleet and multiple drivers to manage varying passenger loads efficiently, leading to high costs and reduced service quality.
Innovation Solution
An articulated vehicle design featuring a front carriage with a main driving system and a rear carriage with an independent auxiliary driving system, including electric machines and energy storage, allowing for modular operation and eliminating the need for a drive line between carriages, enabling efficient use on inclines and varying passenger loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a thermal engine is used to drive the entire articulated bus, then the vehicle can transport more passengers, but the engine overheats and fails on routes with inclines
Solution Approach 1:
The driving system is segmented into a main thermal engine on the front carriage and auxiliary electric driving systems on each rear carriage. This divides the single-point power source into multiple distributed power sources, allowing each unit to operate within its power limits while collectively providing sufficient total power for the entire bus, thereby preventing overheating on inclines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines thermal and electric driving systems into a hybrid architecture. The thermal engine provides base power while electric motors supplement during high-demand situations (inclines, acceleration), merging the reliability of thermal power with the responsive power of electric motors to eliminate engine overheating failures.
2Power
If a drive line extends between carriages to connect the engine to driving axles, then the thermal engine can power the vehicle, but the drive line causes high risk of failures and power losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the auxiliary electric driving systems from the main thermal engine system and places them locally on each rear carriage. This eliminates the need for long drive lines extending between carriages, removing the source of mechanical failures and power losses while maintaining effective power delivery to each axle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical drive line connection with an independent electric driving system on each carriage. Instead of mechanically transmitting power through cardan shafts and drive lines across articulated joints, each carriage has its own electric motor directly connected to its driving axles, eliminating mechanical transmission losses and failures.
3Speed
If the thermal engine size is increased to move the extra weight of the articulated bus, then the vehicle can achieve better speed and acceleration, but the engine becomes even more prone to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The total power requirement is segmented across multiple independent driving units (one thermal engine plus multiple electric motors). Each unit operates at a lower power level, preventing any single engine from overheating, while the combined power of all units provides the necessary speed and acceleration for the heavy articulated bus.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric energy storage systems serve multiple functions: they supplement power during acceleration and inclines, allowing smaller thermal engines that don't overheat, and they can operate independently if needed. This multi-functionality enables the system to achieve high performance without requiring oversized thermal engines.
4Quantity of substance
If the articulated bus configuration is used during peak hours, then passenger capacity is maximized, but the vehicle cannot be separated for use during low load periods
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated bus is segmented into independently powered carriages (front carriage with thermal engine, rear carriages with electric motors). Each carriage can function as a complete driving unit with its own power source, allowing the carriages to be separated and used independently during low-load periods while maintaining full passenger capacity when connected during peak hours.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances speed, acceleration, and maneuverability, reduces maintenance issues, and allows for flexible operation by converting the vehicle from independent to articulated mode as needed, improving passenger capacity and service efficiency while minimizing fleet and driver requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the electrical machine operates as an electric generator to charge said energy storage system
Implementation Method 2
the electric machine operates as an electric motor to provide torque to the driven wheels mounted at the ends of said first operative axle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an articulated vehicle (1) for transporting passengers. Said vehicle (1) comprising at least a front carriage (10) and at least a first rear carriage (20) connected to said front carriage (10) by a first articulated joint (18). According to the invention the vehicle comprises a main driving system (100) installed on said first carriage and an auxiliary driving system (105) installed on said first rear carriage. Said auxiliary driving system (105) comprises preferably two electrical machines (51, 52) working in a way that optimizes the energy recovery in an energy storage system (106). Said driving system (105)is used to assist the main driving system (100)when high power/torque is required, whereas the driving system (105) is used to recharge the energy storage system (106) when low power/torque is required.. This invention presents an optimal energetic configuration for all kinds of assembly: single, articulated or bi-articulated bus.