Compact Gear-Select Transmission With Internal Clutch Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission mechanisms for vehicles are bulky due to the external lever mechanism required for gear change operations, making them unsuitable for compact in-vehicle applications.
Innovation Solution
A transmission mechanism with a gear select clutch disposed between the second and third gears, and a clutch operation unit integrated within the rotational shaft, allowing for gear changes without external mechanisms, thus reducing the overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lever mechanism is disposed on the outside of the coupling sleeve to control gear changes, then the gear change operation is achieved, but the transmission mechanism size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch operation unit is merged with the rotational shaft by integrating the operation shaft within the hollow part of the rotational shaft. This combines the gear change control function with the existing rotational shaft structure, eliminating the need for external lever mechanisms and reducing the overall transmission mechanism size while maintaining gear change operability
Solution Approach 2:
The operation shaft of the clutch operation unit is nested within the hollow part of the rotational shaft. This nesting arrangement allows the gear change control mechanism to be housed inside the rotational shaft rather than externally, significantly reducing the external dimensions and volume of the transmission mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission mechanism includes a first gear coaxially fixed to a rotational shaft having a hollow shape, a second gear, and a third gear. The second and third gears are rotatably and coaxially disposed on an outer periphery of the rotational shaft such that the second and third gears are opposed to each other. A gear select clutch is disposed between the second and third gears, and configured to select one of a state in which the second and first gears are coupled and the third and first gears are decoupled, and a state in which the third and first gears are coupled and the second and first gears are decoupled. A clutch operation unit is configured to couple an operation shaft disposed in a hollow part of the rotational shaft to operate the gear select clutch by advancing and retreating the operation shaft in an axial direction.