Vehicle Power Transmission Clutch Wear Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power transmitting apparatuses for vehicles with motor units connected to drive wheels experience reduced driving performance due to slipping clutches, which lead to uneven power transmission to the left and right drive wheels, causing wear and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A power transmitting apparatus with a controller that detects the power transmitting capabilities of clutches and adjusts the drive power from prime movers to equalize power outputs, disengage clutches when necessary, and provide alternative power sources to maintain smooth vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If clutches are used in transmissions to switch between low-speed torque and high-speed torque, then the range of speeds at which the vehicle can travel is increased, but the clutches tend to start slipping and power transmitting capabilities are lowered as clutch plates are subjected to wear during use
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the power transmitting capability of each clutch and uses this feedback information to adjust the drive power from prime movers. This closed-loop control ensures that the system adapts to clutch wear in real-time, maintaining balanced power transmission despite degradation in clutch performance over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the drive power from prime movers based on the real-time condition of clutches. Instead of using fixed power distribution, the controller modifies power transmission dynamically to compensate for clutch wear and maintain equal power output from both drive units, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
2Reliability
If one of the left and right motor units has a slipping clutch, then the left and right motor units are susceptible to transmitting different amounts of drive power to the respective drive wheels, but the vehicle can maintain good driving performance with proper control adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The controller detects the power transmitting capability of clutches and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the drive power from prime movers. This ensures that even when one clutch is slipping, the system maintains balanced power transmission to both drive wheels, preserving driving performance without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically compensating for clutch wear and power transmission imbalances. The controller monitors clutch condition and autonomously modifies power distribution to maintain equal power output from both drive units, eliminating the need for external control or manual adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A power transmitting apparatus mounted on a vehicle includes a right motor unit connected to a right rear wheel and having a right clutch, and a left motor unit connected to a left rear wheel and having a left clutch. The power transmitting apparatus has an ECU. The ECU detects respective power transmitting capabilities of the clutches, and adjusts the torque of a right motor or a left motor if the power transmitting capability of at least one of the right motor unit and the left motor unit is varied.