Integrated Clutch Valve Unit in Bell Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clutch valve units and actuator arrangements in vehicle transmissions face challenges in terms of functionality and simplification during assembly, particularly in tight spaces within the clutch bell housing, where long piping is required and serviceability is limited.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatically controlled clutch arrangement with a valve unit positioned within the clutch bell housing, integrating both clutch and brake actuator control, reduces the need for long piping, enhances control accuracy, and improves serviceability by allowing easier access and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the valve unit is positioned outside the clutch bell housing, then assembly is simpler, but the piping length increases and control accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is integrated within the clutch bell housing, merging the valve assembly with the housing structure. This eliminates the need for external mounting and long piping connections, thereby improving control accuracy while maintaining assembly simplicity through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch bell housing serves as an intermediary structure that houses the valve unit, allowing the valve to be positioned close to the actuator without requiring complex external piping. The housing acts as a mediator that accommodates the valve unit in a space-efficient manner.
2Measurement precision
If the valve unit is positioned within the clutch bell housing, then control accuracy improves and piping length reduces, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is merged with the clutch bell housing as an integrated assembly. This combining approach reduces the number of separate components and connections required, thereby improving control accuracy while actually simplifying assembly through the unified structure rather than increasing complexity.
3Speed
If the valve unit is positioned within the clutch bell housing, then piping length reduces and control speed improves, but serviceability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is designed as a separable module within the clutch bell housing. This segmentation allows the valve unit to be independently removed and serviced without disassembling the entire housing, thereby maintaining fast control response while improving serviceability through modular accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit can be extracted from the clutch bell housing as a separate component for servicing. This extraction capability allows maintenance personnel to access and service the valve quickly without completely disassembling the housing, thereby maintaining fast control speed while improving serviceability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate valve units are used for clutch and brake actuators, then functionality is improved, but valve unit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is designed with multi-functionality to control both the clutch actuator and brake actuator through a single integrated assembly. This universal design provides the required functionality for both systems while reducing the overall valve unit size compared to having separate valve units for each actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch control valve and brake control valve are merged into a single integrated valve unit. This combining of functions into one compact assembly provides full functionality for both clutch and brake control while minimizing the total space required compared to separate valve units.
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 enables a compact, efficient, and rapidly controllable clutch and brake actuator system, reducing valve unit size, minimizing leakage risks, and simplifying assembly and maintenance within the constrained space of the clutch bell housing.
Implementation Method 1
a clutch valve arranged in fluid communication with the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement for controlling supply of compressed air to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a brake valve arranged in fluid communication with the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement for controlling supply of compressed air to the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a clutch arrangement (500) of a vehicle transmission arrangement (100), the clutch arrangement (500) being positioned within a clutch bell housing (206) of the vehicle transmission and comprising a pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208) connectable to a first clutch unit (202) of the vehicle transmission arrangement (100) and arranged to controllably position the first clutch unit (202) between a closed position and an opened position, a pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210) connectable to a second clutch unit (204) of the transmission arrangement and arranged to controllably position the second clutch unit (204) between a closed position and an opened position, and a valve unit (302) connected to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208) and the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210), wherein the valve unit (302) comprises a clutch valve (308) arranged in fluid communication with the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (210) for controlling supply of compressed air to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (210), and a brake valve (318) arranged in fluid communication with the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210) for controlling supply of compressed air to the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210).