Electric Steering Transmission for Precise Skid-Steer Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Skid-steered vehicles, such as ATVs, experience inefficient energy consumption and abrupt turns due to the need to brake one side to initiate a turn, leading to power wastage and imprecise steering.
Innovation Solution
A transmission system that allows simultaneous operation by a prime mover and an electric steering motor, with a speed varying structure that adjusts the rotational speed of the left and right drive shafts relative to the input shaft, enabling more precise and energy-efficient turns by varying the speed ratio of the drive shafts through the steering motor's input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional skid-steering method is used (braking one side to initiate turn), then steering function is achieved, but energy is wasted and turns become abrupt and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of braking one side to achieve steering (conventional method), the invention applies power to the steering shaft to actively drive one side faster than the other. This inverts the approach from negative control (braking) to positive control (power application), eliminating energy waste from braking while achieving precise steering control through active speed differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dynamic speed varying structure that continuously adjusts the rotational speed of left and right drive shafts based on steering input. This dynamic adjustment allows smooth, progressive speed differentiation between sides during steering, enabling precise and gradual turns rather than abrupt changes, while optimizing energy distribution in real-time.
2Measurement precision
If speed varying structure is added to enable precise steering, then steering precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering shaft and speed varying structure serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide steering control by differentiating left/right drive shaft speeds, acts as a power distribution mechanism, and enable both straight-line travel and turning operations through a single integrated system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate steering and propulsion systems, offsetting the added complexity with functional consolidation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If power is transmitted to both sides during turn, then energy efficiency improves, but steering control becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different rotational speeds to different sides (left and right drive shafts) based on steering requirements. During steering, one side receives higher power transmission while the other receives reduced power, creating local quality differences in power distribution. This enables energy-efficient steering by directing power where needed while maintaining effective steering control through speed differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission for a vehicle, particularly a skid-steered vehicle, that employs motive power from a prime mover delivered through an input shaft to drive left and right drive shafts at a nominal speed and input power from an electric motor to vary the speed of the left and right drive shafts according to steering commands from a steering control structure. The speed of the left and right drive shafts is directly related to a speed of the input shaft and the nominal speed of the left or right drive shaft is varied upwardly or downwardly by a ratio of the speed of the steering shaft via a speed varying structure. The speed of the left and right drive shafts is simultaneously varied in opposite directions (i.e. upwardly and downwardly) relative to the nominal speed by an equal number of rotations.