CVT Control Valve Cutout Layout for Strainer Height Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power transmitting devices face layout restrictions in the height direction due to the overlapping arrangement of control valves and strainers, limiting the design flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A power transmitting device with a control valve unit featuring a cutting portion that allows the strainer to overlap, enabling a more compact and efficient layout by accommodating the strainer within the control valve unit's height, thereby easing height-related restrictions and allowing for a more flexible arrangement of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the control valve and strainer are arranged with complete overlapping in the height direction, then the layout restriction in terms of height direction is imposed, but the device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve unit is segmented by forming a cutting portion that divides the unit into multiple regions. This segmentation allows the strainer to be positioned in the cutting portion, enabling the strainer to overlap with the control valve unit in the height direction while maintaining layout freedom. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by creating distinct functional zones within the control valve unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer is nested within the cutting portion of the control valve unit, allowing the strainer to be accommodated within the overall height envelope of the control valve unit. This nesting arrangement enables the strainer to overlap with the control valve unit vertically while maintaining a compact overall structure, thus improving layout freedom without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the strainer overlaps the control valve unit in the height direction, then the layout restriction is eased, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting portion is formed as an integral part of the control valve unit during the manufacturing process, rather than being added as a separate component. This preliminary action ensures that the cutting portion's geometry and position are precisely controlled from the outset, reducing the need for subsequent adjustments and minimizing the impact on manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The formation of the cutting portion is merged with the overall manufacturing process of the control valve unit, allowing the cutting portion to be created using the same manufacturing techniques and tolerances as the rest of the unit. This integration reduces the cumulative tolerance stack-up and simplifies the manufacturing precision requirements compared to adding the cutting portion as a separate machining operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A continuously variable transmission has an oil pan, an oil strainer located above the oil pan and a control valve unit located above the oil pan. The control valve unit has a shape having a cutting portion formed by a part of the control valve unit being cut out when viewed from an oil pan side. The oil strainer is arranged so as to overlap the cutting portion. With this structure, it is possible to ease a restriction on layout in terms of a height direction in the continuously variable transmission.