Motor Vehicle Drive Train Layout for Left- and Right-Hand Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive train systems for motor vehicles face challenges in optimizing the use of available installation space, leading to inefficiencies and increased development, manufacturing, and assembly costs. Additionally, these systems often require constructive adjustments for different vehicle variants, such as left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles, which complicates their use and production.
Innovation Solution
The drive train system is designed with a centrally arranged differential and joint shafts of equal length, allowing the drive unit to be seamlessly integrated into both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles. This configuration optimizes space usage and allows for the same drive unit components to be used in both vehicle types, reducing production costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the drive unit is designed with a centrally arranged differential and equal-length drive shafts, then the adaptability to different vehicle variants (left-hand and right-hand drive) is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the symmetric configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by allowing the differential to be arranged offset from the vehicle centerline rather than requiring perfect symmetry. The differential can be positioned on either the left or right side depending on the vehicle variant, eliminating the need for completely symmetric drive shafts and components. This reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different drive configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit is designed with universal components that can function in both left-hand and right-hand drive configurations. The differential mounting structure and drive shaft connections are designed to accommodate either orientation, allowing a single drive unit design to serve multiple vehicle variants without requiring variant-specific modifications.
2Ease of manufacture
If the drive unit components are standardized for use in both left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the installation space optimization becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities where components such as the differential and drive shafts can be adjusted or repositioned during installation to optimize space utilization for each specific vehicle variant. This dynamic adaptability allows standardized components to be efficiently installed in both left-hand and right-hand drive configurations without compromising space optimization.
3Length of moving object
If the differential is arranged centrally on the longitudinal axis, then the drive shaft lengths are equalized, but the steering gear arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is segmented into independent modules that can be separately positioned and configured. This segmentation allows the steering gear to be arranged optimally relative to the centrally positioned differential without requiring the entire drive train to be reconfigured. The modular approach simplifies the overall arrangement by decoupling the steering system from the drive shaft length requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive train (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one drive unit (2), a steering gear (3), at least one steering shaft (4), at least one first and one second drive shaft (5, 6), wherein the drive unit (2) comprises an electric motor (7), a transmission unit (8) and a pulse inverter (9), wherein the steering gear (3) is arranged in the direction of travel (12) in front of the drive unit (2), and wherein the steering shaft (4) is arranged laterally next to the drive unit (2).A particularly flexible and effective drive train (1) is provided, wherein the drive unit (2) is designed such that the drive unit (2) can be arranged in both a right-hand drive vehicle and a left-hand drive vehicle, wherein the arrangement of the drive unit (2) in the right-hand drive vehicle is rotated by 180° to a vertical axis (15) relative to the arrangement of the drive unit (2) in the left-hand drive vehicle, wherein when the drive unit (2) is arranged in the right-hand drive vehicle, the steering shaft (4) is then arranged to the right of the drive unit (2) with respect to the direction of travel (12), and wherein when the drive unit (2) is arranged in the left-hand drive vehicle, the steering shaft (4) is then arranged to the left of the drive unit (2) with respect to the direction of travel (12).