Drive Axle Bearing Layout With Co-Rotating Drive Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle constructions require a cardan shaft to compensate for relative movements, leading to a large space usage due to the need for a minimum shaft length, which limits the compactness of the drive unit placement relative to the drive axle.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle construction where the drive unit and bearing structure are rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation, allowing for a cardan shaft-free connection to the drive axle, with a support arm structure that can absorb vertical movements and include a spring or damper device, enabling synchronous rotational movement and minimizing relative movement between the drive unit and drive axle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cardan shaft is used to connect the drive unit to the drive axle, then relative movements during operation are compensated, but the installation space required increases due to the minimum shaft length requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cardan shaft from the drive system by directly coupling the drive unit to the drive axle. This removal of the intermediate cardan shaft component resolves the technical contradiction by achieving both compact installation space and adequate compensation of relative movements through the direct connection geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the drive unit and drive axle into a more integrated arrangement where the drive unit is positioned closer to the drive axle. This merging eliminates the need for the cardan shaft intermediate connection, thereby reducing installation space while maintaining the ability to compensate for relative movements through the integrated design
2Volume of moving object
If the drive unit is positioned close to the drive axle, then installation space is reduced, but relative movement compensation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the bearing structure to rotate about a common axis of rotation with the drive unit. This dynamic rotational capability enables the system to compensate for relative movements during operation while maintaining the compact positioning of the drive unit close to the drive axle, thus resolving the contradiction between space reduction and movement compensation
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 configuration allows for a more compact arrangement of the drive unit close to the drive axle, reducing space usage and eliminating the need for cardan shafts, while maintaining efficient rotational movement and stability during vehicle movements.
Implementation Method 1
at least one bearing structure (4) which serves to support the drive axle (2) and is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation with the drive unit (3)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle construction (100), preferably comprising a chassis with two longitudinal beams (1), a drive axle (2) having a rotatable drive shaft, at least one drive unit (3) comprising a drive transmission and/or a drive motor for driving the drive shaft, and at least one bearing structure (4) rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (X) and serving to support the drive axle (2). The motor vehicle construction (100) is characterized in particular by the fact that the drive unit (3) is also rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation (X).