Integrated Drive Assembly Cooling With Orifice-Controlled Coolant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drive assemblies for work vehicles face challenges in efficiently cooling multiple components, leading to potential overheating and reduced performance, as they often require external hoses and complex plumbing systems for coolant distribution.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly with a combined cooling circuit that integrates the electric machine and transmission assembly within a single housing, utilizing a control orifice to manage coolant flow directly between the components, eliminating the need for external hoses and ensuring balanced coolant distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external hoses and complex plumbing systems are used for coolant distribution, then cooling coverage can be extended to multiple components, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling circuits for the electric machine and transmission into a single integrated cooling system. The housing contains both components with shared coolant passages, eliminating the need for separate external hoses and plumbing connections. This merging approach maintains effective cooling of multiple components while significantly reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that integrates the cooling functions. It contains internal coolant passages that distribute coolant to both the electric machine and transmission components without requiring external plumbing. The housing serves as a mediator that simplifies the cooling system architecture while maintaining comprehensive cooling coverage.
2Reliability
If separate cooling circuits are used for electric machine and transmission, then each component can be cooled independently, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling circuits for the electric machine and transmission into a single integrated system within the housing. The unified cooling circuit maintains reliable cooling for both components through shared coolant passages and a common coolant source, eliminating the need for separate independent cooling systems while reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cooling circuit is designed to serve multiple functions by cooling both the electric machine and transmission components. The universal cooling system uses a common coolant supply and integrated passages to provide reliable thermal management for different components with potentially different cooling requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If external hoses are used for coolant distribution, then installation flexibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling system into an integrated unit within the housing, eliminating external hoses and connections. This merging simplifies both assembly during manufacture and maintenance during operation, as the sealed integrated system requires fewer connection points and is less susceptible to leaks and external damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooling system is designed as a self-contained unit within the housing that requires minimal external intervention for maintenance. The sealed internal passages and unified structure reduce the need for external hose connections, making the system more robust and easier to maintain without requiring complex disassembly or external component access.
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
This solution provides efficient and compact cooling for both the electric machine and transmission assembly, enhancing performance by maintaining optimal operating temperatures without the complexity of external plumbing, while allowing for configurability with various electric machine power capacities.
Implementation Method 1
A controlled flow of coolant is transferred from the electric machine section of the cooling circuit to the transmission section of the cooling circuit via the control orifice
Implementation Method 2
the casing having a coolant inlet port and defining an electric machine section of the cooling circuit for the drive assembly that is at least in part within the casing
Data Source
AI summary
A drive assembly for a work vehicle includes an electric machine and a transmission assembly, which has a gear set at least in part contained within a transmission housing and has a control orifice communicating with a transmission section of a cooling circuit for the drive assembly being at least in part within the transmission housing. The electric machine has a casing coupled to the transmission housing to be mounted fixedly thereto. The casing has a coolant inlet port and defines an electric machine section of the cooling circuit for the drive assembly that is at least in part within the casing. A controlled flow of coolant is transferred from the electric machine section of the cooling circuit to the transmission section of the cooling circuit via the control orifice.