Vehicle Drive Unit With Shared Cooling and Brake Lubrication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive units for electrically driven vehicles are complex and costly to produce, with limited efficiency in transmitting power and braking.
Innovation Solution
A drive unit comprising an electric motor, a transmission unit, and at least one brake unit, integrated with a lubricant circuit and a cooling circuit to simplify design, reduce components, and enhance manufacturability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate lubricant and cooling circuits are used for transmission and brake units, then each component can be optimally supplied, but the overall system complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lubricant circuit and cooling circuit into a single integrated fluid circuit system. The transmission unit and brake units share common fluid supply lines and reservoirs, eliminating the need for separate lubricant and cooling systems. This merging reduces the number of components, simplifies the overall system architecture, and lowers production costs while maintaining adequate supply to all units.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated fluid circuit is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - providing both lubrication and cooling to different components (transmission and brake units) through a single system. The circuit can dynamically allocate fluid flow to different units based on their instantaneous needs, making the system versatile and adaptable to varying operational conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (electric motor, transmission, brake units) are used, then functional requirements are met, but the overall weight and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the electric motor, transmission unit, and brake units into a single compact drive unit assembly. By combining these previously separate components into one integrated structure with shared housing and common fluid circuits, the overall weight is reduced while maintaining all necessary functions. The compact arrangement eliminates redundant structural elements and reduces the total mass of the drive system.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional separate circuit designs are used, then component independence is maintained, but power transmission efficiency and braking performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated fluid circuit is designed to dynamically allocate lubricant and coolant flow to different components based on their instantaneous operational needs. The system can prioritize fluid supply to the transmission during high-load operation or to the brake units during deceleration events, optimizing performance across all functions rather than being constrained by fixed separate circuits.
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
The integrated design of the drive unit reduces complexity, weight, and production costs while improving power transmission efficiency and braking performance, enabling a compact, high-power-density system with reduced unsprung masses.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant circuit through which both the transmission unit and at least one brake unit can be supplied with lubricant
Implementation Method 2
a cooling circuit through which both (i) at least one of the electric motor and a power electronics system assigned to the electric motor; and (ii) at least one brake assembly can be supplied with coolant
Implementation Method 3
a cooling circuit through which both (i) at least one of the electric motor and a power electronics system assigned to the electric motor; and (ii) at least one brake assembly can be supplied with coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A drive unit for a vehicle, having an electric motor and a transmission unit, wherein the electric motor is connected to the transmission unit via a drive shaft and at least one first output shaft can be driven to rotate by the transmission unit, wherein the drive unit also has at least one brake unit. The rotation of the at least one output shaft can be delayed by the brake unit, wherein the drive unit has at least one of the following: a lubricant circuit through which both the transmission unit and at least one brake unit can be supplied with lubricant, and a cooling circuit through which both (i) at least one of the electric motor and a power electronics system assigned to the electric motor; and (ii) at least one brake assembly can be supplied with coolant.