Coaxial Left-Right Wheel Drive Layout for Compact Torque Split

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle wheel driving devices face challenges in achieving a compact design while maintaining sufficient torque difference transmission between left and right wheels, often resulting in increased size due to long power transmission paths and reduced rotation speed from single gear trains.

Innovation Solution

A left-right wheel driving device with coaxially disposed motor shafts, parallel counter shafts, and output shafts featuring a reduction gear train and a gear mechanism that amplifies torque difference, allowing for a compact configuration by positioning components efficiently and overlapping gears to reduce vehicle width dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a single gear train is used to reduce motor rotation speed, then the device size is reduced, but the torque difference transmission capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidtorque difference transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two functions into a single integrated gear mechanism: (1) a reduction gear train that reduces motor rotation speed, and (2) a torque difference amplification mechanism that transmits amplified torque to the wheels. This merging allows the device to achieve both compact size and sufficient torque transmission capability without requiring separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gear mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces rotation speed from the motors, amplifies the torque difference between left and right sides, and transmits the resulting torques to the corresponding wheels. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated mechanisms, maintaining compact dimensions while ensuring adequate torque transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Length of moving object

If motors are arranged on the vehicle shaft, then power transmission is direct, but the device dimension in vehicle width direction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission path lengthVSAvoiddevice dimension in vehicle width direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging motors on the vehicle shaft (width direction), the patent positions the motors above the vehicle shaft and uses vertically extending shafts (motor shafts, counter shafts, output shafts) to transmit power. This dimensional reorganization moves the power transmission path from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane, reducing the device's width while maintaining efficient power transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested arrangement where the counter shafts are positioned within the space between the left and right motors, and the output shafts are arranged to overlap with the motor assemblies in the vertical direction. This nesting allows multiple transmission components to occupy overlapping spatial envelopes, minimizing the overall device footprint in the vehicle width direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 driving device that reduces motor rotation speed and amplifies torque difference, achieving a more compact size and improved torque transmission efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

motor shafts that are positioned between the rotating shafts coaxially with the rotating shafts and that are each provided with a motor gear, counter shafts that are disposed in parallel to the motor shafts and that are each provided with a first intermediate gear meshing with the motor gear and a second intermediate gear having a diameter smaller than that of the first intermediate gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

a reduction gear train that reduces the rotation speed of the motors and a gear mechanism that amplifies a torque difference between the two motors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpeed reduction: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3936371B1Left-right wheel driving device
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORP
  • EP3936371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3936371B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3936371B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a left-right wheel driving device (10) including two motors (1, 2) that drive left and right wheels and a gear mechanism (3) that amplifies a torque difference between the two motors (1, 2) and transmits the amplified torques to the left and right wheels, respective, rotating shafts (1A, 2A) of the two motors (1, 2) are coaxially disposed. The left-right wheel driving device (10) further includes motor shafts (11) that are positioned between the rotating shafts (1A, 2A) coaxially with the rotating shafts (1A, 2A) and that are each provided with a motor gear (21), counter shafts (12) that are disposed in parallel to the motor shafts (11) and that are each provided with a first intermediate gear (22) meshing with the motor gear (21) and a second intermediate gear (23) having a diameter smaller than that of the first intermediate gear (22), and output shafts (13) that are disposed in parallel to the motor shafts (11) and that are each provided with an output gear (24) meshing with the second intermediate gear(23). The gear mechanism (3) is disposed on one end side of each of the output shafts (13) and one of the left and right wheels is disposed on the other end side of the output shaft (13).