Hybrid Drivetrain Layout With Interchangeable Electric Motors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased complexity and cost associated with vehicles having multiple drive sources, such as internal combustion engines and electric motors, due to additional components and complex control systems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring first and second front electric motors, a rear electric motor, and an internal combustion engine, all with a common set of physical characteristics and identical motor control units, allowing for interchangeable electric motors and simplified control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive sources (internal combustion engine and electric motors) are used, then vehicle performance and versatility are improved, but production cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing all electric motors (front and rear) with identical physical characteristics and interchangeable motor control units. This allows a single motor design to serve multiple functions in different positions within the vehicle, reducing the variety of components needed while maintaining the ability to provide multiple drive sources for enhanced vehicle performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the number of windings in the coils of identical motor designs to achieve different torque characteristics. This allows the same basic motor structure to be adapted for different positions (front vs rear) by simply changing the electrical parameters rather than the physical structure, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drive sources are used, then vehicle performance is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces production cost through universality by making all electric motors interchangeable with identical physical characteristics. This standardization allows for bulk manufacturing of identical components, reducing per-unit costs compared to producing specialized motors for each position, while still enabling multiple drive sources for improved vehicle performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reduces production cost through parameter changes by modifying only the coil winding parameters of identical motor designs. This approach is more cost-effective than manufacturing entirely different motor designs, as it leverages economies of scale in producing the base motor structure while achieving performance differentiation through simple parameter adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle comprising: first and second front electric motors, each front electric motor being coupled to a respective front wheel to drive that front wheel; a rear electric motor, an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine and rear electric motor being coupled to a rear axle to drive rear wheels; and three motor control units each comprising drive components, each motor control unit being coupled to a respective electric motor to drive that electric motor using the drive components, and the front and rear electric motors having a common set of physical characteristics so that each of the motor control units has identical drive components.