Integrated Differential Gear Unit for Power Plant Torque Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power plants for driving vehicles require a large number of components, leading to increased size, weight, and manufacturing costs due to complex differential gear units with multiple rotary elements and connecting shafts.
Innovation Solution
A power plant design featuring a differential gear unit with a rotatable carrier, triple pinion gears, and additional pinion gears that reduce the number of components required, achieving a collinear relationship of rotational speeds and allowing for efficient torque distribution to driven parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional differential gear units with multiple planetary gear units are used to achieve torque distribution control, then torque control capability is improved, but the number of components increases leading to increased size, weight, and manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple planetary gear units into a single integrated differential gear unit. Specifically, it merges a first planetary gear unit with sun gear S1, pinion gears P1, carrier C1, and ring gear R1; a second planetary gear unit with sun gear S2, pinion gears P2, carrier C2, and ring gear R2; and a third planetary gear unit with sun gear S3, pinion gears P3, carrier C3, and ring gear R3 into one unified structure. This consolidation maintains the torque distribution control functionality while reducing the total number of separate components and eliminating the need for multiple connecting shafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated differential gear unit performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides torque distribution control, acts as a differential mechanism for left and right drive wheels, and serves as a speed reduction mechanism. The single gear unit handles what would traditionally require separate planetary gear units, making the system more versatile while reducing component count.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple planetary gear units are combined to form differential gear unit, then torque distribution to driven parts is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple planetary gear units into a single integrated differential gear unit, consolidating what would traditionally be separate heavy components into one unified structure. This integration maintains the torque distribution capability while reducing the total weight by eliminating redundant components and connecting shafts.
3Power
If conventional differential gear unit with multiple rotary elements and connecting shafts is used, then torque transmission is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple planetary gear units into one integrated differential gear unit, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This merging of components maintains full torque transmission capability while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
Triple pinion gears each of which is comprised of integrally formed first to third pinion gears, and additional pinion gears rotatably supported by a rotatable carrier. The additional pinion gears mesh with a sun gear and associated ones of third pinion gears, and first and second pinion gears mesh with first and second ring gears, respectively. The rotational speeds of four rotary elements of the carrier, the sun gear, and the first and second ring gears satisfy a collinear relationship in which the rotational speeds thereof are aligned in a single straight line in a collinear chart. The sun gear and the carrier, positioned at opposite outer sides of the straight line in the collinear chart, respectively, are connected to first and second rotating electric machines, respectively, and the second and first ring gears, positioned adjacent to the two, respectively, are connected to left and right output shafts and, respectively.