Drive Train Bearing Shield Layout for Lower Oil Churning Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive trains for motor vehicles suffer from significant churning losses due to a large, wide oil sump area, leading to inefficiency and increased space requirements, along with high costs and complex design.
Innovation Solution
The drive train is redesigned with a bearing shield that divides the oil sump area into two sections of differing depths, allowing controlled oil flow and stabilization, reducing churning losses and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large, wide oil sump area is used to accommodate the differential and transmission, then the components can be properly supported and lubricated, but churning losses increase significantly and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing shield is divided into multiple functional regions: a bearing region with increased wall thickness for structural support, an oil sump region with reduced depth for minimal oil volume, and a drive shaft passage region. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized independently - the bearing region provides reliable support while the oil sump region minimizes churning losses by reducing oil volume to only what is necessary for lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing shield exhibits local quality variations through its asymmetric wall thickness distribution. The wall thickness varies between different regions - thicker in the bearing region for structural integrity and thinner in the oil sump region to reduce volume. This local differentiation allows the shield to provide reliable component support where needed while minimizing oil volume and churning losses in the lubrication area.
2Reliability
If a traditional bearing shield design is used, then the differential can be supported, but the shield occupies large space and requires considerable assembly space
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing shield is segmented into distinct functional zones (bearing region, oil sump region, drive shaft passage) that can be independently optimized. This segmentation allows the shield to provide necessary differential support in a compact form by concentrating support functions in specific localized areas rather than requiring a large uniform structure throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing shield uses local quality variations through asymmetric wall thickness distribution - thicker walls where structural support is needed and thinner walls where space can be minimized. This allows the shield to maintain reliable differential support while occupying minimal assembly space overall.
3Reliability
If a deep, wide oil sump area is used, then all components can be adequately lubricated, but the design complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oil sump area is segmented and integrated directly into the bearing shield structure rather than being a separate component. The bearing shield itself forms the boundaries of the oil sump regions, eliminating the need for additional housing structures and reducing design complexity while maintaining adequate lubrication through strategically positioned oil sump regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing shield and oil sump structure are merged into a single integrated component. The bearing shield simultaneously provides mechanical support for the differential and defines the oil sump regions for lubrication. This merging eliminates the need for separate housing structures, reducing design complexity and component count while maintaining adequate lubrication functionality.
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 design reduces churning losses, enhances efficiency, and simplifies assembly while minimizing space and costs, achieving targeted oil distribution and lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing shield and/or the circumferential section is/are designed and/or arranged such that the oil sump area is divided into a first and a second oil sump area
Implementation Method 2
the differential's axle drive gear is designed and/or present or arranged such that it at least partially splashes in an oil sump provided and/or present in the lower part of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive train (1) for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one drive shaft (3), at least one transmission (4), at least one differential (5), and at least one wheel drive shaft (6, 7), wherein the differential (5) has at least one axle drive gear (5a) and the axle drive gear (5a) engages with at least one gear (4b) of the transmission (4), wherein at least one oil sump area (9) is provided and/or is present, and wherein the axle drive gear (5a) and/or a gear of the transmission is arranged to splash at least partially in the oil sump area (9), wherein at least one bearing plate (10) is provided and/or is present for the arrangement and/or mounting of the differential (5), and wherein the bearing plate (10) has at least one bearing receptacle (10a) for receiving and/or arranging a bearing (11).The efficiency of the drive train is increased, or churning losses are avoided, by the fact that the bearing shield (10) has at least one flange-like circumferential region (10b) extending radially towards the oil sump area (9), wherein the bearing shield (10) and/or the circumferential region (10b) is designed and/or arranged in such a way that the oil sump area (9) is thereby divided into a first and a second oil sump area (9a, 9b).