Compact Electric Drive Unit Rear Axle Truck Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trucks with internal combustion engines face limitations in rear area installation due to the size of the engine, requiring the engine to be positioned under the driver's cab or raising the cab, which restricts loading space and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A truck with a compact electric drive unit positioned between the main side members and behind the rear axle, allowing for a lower driver's cab and increased loading space, featuring a permanent magnet electric motor, inverter, and cooling device arranged in a space-saving manner within the vehicle frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional internal combustion engine is installed in the rear area of the truck, then the engine size limits the installation space, but positioning it under the driver's cab or raising the cab restricts loading space and visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional internal combustion engine with an electric drive unit, substituting a mechanical system with an electrical one. This substitution enables significantly more compact dimensions while maintaining the required power output, thereby resolving the space conflict between the drive unit and loading area.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric drive unit is positioned in the longitudinal dimension at the rear of the vehicle between the main side members, utilizing previously unused space. This dimensional repositioning allows the loading structure to maintain its conventional configuration without being compromised by the drive unit placement.
2Volume of moving object
If the driver's cab is raised above the combustion engine to accommodate the engine size, then the engine can be positioned, but accessibility and visibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the large internal combustion engine with a compact electric drive unit, the patent eliminates the need to raise the driver's cab, thereby maintaining conventional cab height and preserving driver accessibility and visibility.
3Area of stationary object
If the electric drive unit is arranged between the main side members and behind the rear axle, then loading space is maintained, but the drive unit must have compact dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an electric drive unit with significantly more compact dimensions compared to a conventional internal combustion engine, enabling placement in the rear area between the main side members without compromising loading space.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric drive unit is positioned in the longitudinal dimension at the rear of the vehicle between the main side members, utilizing previously unused space. This dimensional repositioning allows the loading structure to maintain its conventional configuration without being compromised by the drive unit placement.
4Volume of moving object
If a conventional engine is positioned under the driver's cab, then the engine has adequate space, but the loading structure is limited from above
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the large internal combustion engine with a compact electric drive unit, eliminating the need to position it under the driver's cab and thereby restoring full loading space above the rear axle area.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric drive unit is repositioned from the conventional location under the driver's cab to the rear area between the main side members, utilizing previously unused longitudinal space and freeing up the area under the cab for loading purposes.
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
Enables a lower driver's cab for improved accessibility and visibility, while maintaining the loading structure's integrity without reducing available space, and provides a more efficient use of rear area space with the electric drive unit's compact dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
The electric drive unit comprises a single electric motor (for example a permanent magnet electric motor)
Implementation Method 2
The electric drive unit expediently comprises a single electric motor (for example a permanent magnet electric motor)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a truck (10) comprising an electric drive unit (12) which, with respect to the forward direction of travel of the truck (10), is arranged behind a rear axle (20) and between two main longitudinal members (22) of a vehicle frame (16). The comparatively small dimensions of the electric drive unit (12) allow for a protected and space-saving arrangement between the main longitudinal members (22). The cargo area (24) of the truck is thus not restricted by the electric drive unit (12). Furthermore, the rear-facing arrangement of the electric drive unit (12) eliminates the otherwise required installation space for the drive unit under the driver's cab (14), so that the driver's cab (14) can be positioned lower.