Belt Drive Arrangement with Dual-Surface Torque Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current belt drive arrangements for internal-combustion engines require deflection pulleys, increasing mounting costs and space requirements due to the need for sufficient belt looping around drive and output pulleys to ensure torque transmission.
Innovation Solution
A belt drive arrangement where the belt loops drive pulleys with its inner face for high load torque auxiliary units and outer face for low load torque units, eliminating the need for additional deflection pulleys, and incorporating a tensioning roller to adapt looping angles based on power consumption, reducing overall weight, cost, and frictional torques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deflection pulleys are used to ensure sufficient belt looping around drive pulleys, then torque transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and mounting expenditures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple separate belt loops into a single continuous belt that loops multiple drive pulleys (crankshaft, camshaft, auxiliary units) in sequence. This merging eliminates the need for separate deflection pulleys and multiple belts, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable torque transmission across all driven components
Solution Approach 2:
The single continuous belt serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits torque from the crankshaft to the camshaft, drives multiple auxiliary units (water pump, alternator, air conditioning compressor), and maintains proper tensioning across all drive pulleys. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate belt systems and deflection pulleys
2Reliability
If deflection pulleys are used to ensure sufficient belt looping, then torque transmission is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple belt loops into one continuous belt that travels in a compact path around all drive pulleys, the patent eliminates the need for additional deflection pulleys that would occupy extra space. The single belt configuration reduces the overall footprint of the timing drive system within the engine compartment
3Reliability
If additional deflection pulleys are added to improve belt looping, then torque transmission reliability is improved, but overall weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary deflection pulleys from the traditional multi-belt system. By using a single continuous belt that directly connects all drive pulleys without intermediate deflection elements, the system reduces overall weight while maintaining adequate belt looping and torque transmission reliability
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
This configuration results in a space-saving, lightweight belt drive with reduced frictional torques, improved fuel efficiency, and lower CO2 emissions, while allowing for optimized arrangement of auxiliary units and reduced installation space.
Implementation Method 1
a sufficient adhering contact be ensured between the belt and the drive or output wheel and, thereby, a sufficient transmission of torques and powers
Data Source
AI summary
A belt drive arrangement for an internal combustion engine, includes a drive pulley which is driven by a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a first output pulley with which a first auxiliary unit can be driven, a second output pulley with which a second auxiliary unit can be driven, and a belt which has an inner face and an outer face opposite the inner face and which loops at least some portions of the drive pulley and the output pulleys as a belt transmission. The inner face of the belt loops the drive pulley and the first output pulley while physically contacting same, and the outer face loops the second output pulley while physically contacting same. An internal combustion engine is provided with such a belt drive arrangement.