Electric Motor Integrated Torque Converter and Automatic Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles with higher gear ratios in automatic transmissions require increased shaft numbers or gear sizes, reducing installation flexibility and potentially increasing costs, or necessitating larger electric motors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a torque converter coaxial with the electric motor, a mechanical oil pump driven by the electric motor, and an automatic transmission with parallel input and output shafts, synchromesh dog clutch, and friction clutch to amplify torque without increasing motor size or reducing installation flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the range of gear ratios of the automatic transmission is set to a range of higher gear ratios in order to enable the torque output from the motor generator to be further increased, then the torque output is increased, but the number of shafts or sizes of gears must be increased, reducing the flexibility in installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic transmission is disposed inside the motor generator, merging two separate components into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate installation spaces for the transmission and motor generator, allowing high gear ratios to be achieved without compromising installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic transmission is nested within the motor generator housing, with the transmission input shaft receiving power from the motor generator output shaft. This nested configuration allows the transmission components to be housed within the existing motor generator space, maintaining installation flexibility while enabling higher torque output through appropriate gear ratio selection.
2Force
If the size of the motor generator is increased in order to increase the output torque without setting the range of gear ratios of the automatic transmission to a range of higher gear ratios, then the output torque is increased, but a cost increase may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic transmission acts as an intermediary between the motor generator and the drive wheels, providing gear ratio multiplication to increase output torque. This allows the motor generator itself to remain smaller and more cost-effective, while the torque multiplication function is achieved through the transmission's gear system rather than by increasing motor generator size.
3Ease of operation
If the oil pump is disposed coaxially with the electric motor and alongside the electric motor, then the oil pump can be driven by the electric motor, but the width of the electric vehicle in the axial direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical oil pump is integrated within the automatic transmission housing, merging the oil pump function with the transmission assembly. The oil pump is driven by power from the motor generator through the transmission, eliminating the need for a separate axial space allocation for the oil pump while maintaining its operational capability.
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 configuration allows for increased torque transmission to drive wheels without reducing installation flexibility or increasing costs, while maintaining responsiveness and enabling oil pump operation during neutral transmission states.
Implementation Method 1
a torque converter, an automatic transmission, and a mechanical oil pump. The torque converter is disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the electric motor. The power is transmitted to the torque converter from the electric motor.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle is provided with an electric motor serving as a driving source and is not provided with an internal combustion engine from which power is transmitted to drive wheels driven by power from the electric motor. The electric vehicle includes: a torque converter that is disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the electric motor, and to which the power is transmitted from the electric motor; an automatic transmission disposed on a power transmission path between the electric motor and the drive wheels, and configured to achieve a shift stage at which the power is interrupted; and a mechanical oil pump driven by the power from the electric motor, and disposed on the power transmission path, at a position upstream of the automatic transmission in a direction of power transmission from the electric motor to the drive wheels. The mechanical oil pump is disposed in the electric motor.