Integrated Gear Set for Ground Vehicle Drivetrain

Solution Overview

Problem

Developers of ground vehicle drivetrains face challenges in balancing performance, weight, packaging, and durability while providing effective tractive torque to all wheels, particularly in achieving all-wheel drive and hybrid operation efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A drivetrain system featuring a non-combustion torque machine coaxially coupled to an integrated gear set, including a conjoined carrier assembly that connects a reducing gear set to a differential gear set, which is then coupled to differential axle members, allowing for tractive torque transfer to both front and rear wheels, enabling all-wheel drive and hybrid operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional separate gear sets and differentials are used for all-wheel drive, then tractive torque can be provided to all wheels, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveall-wheel drive capabilityVSAvoiddrivetrain structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reducing gear set and differential gear set into a single integrated gear set with a conjoined carrier assembly. The sun gear serves as the input member, the ring gear provides reduction, and two planetary gear sets with conjoined carriers act as both reduction mechanisms and differentials, eliminating the need for separate gear sets and differentials while maintaining all-wheel drive capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated gear set performs multiple functions simultaneously: the first planetary gear set provides both torque reduction and differential action for the first axle, the second planetary gear set provides both torque reduction and differential action for the second axle, and the conjoined carriers link these functions together in a single compact unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional separate gear sets and differentials are used for all-wheel drive, then tractive torque can be provided to all wheels, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveall-wheel drive capabilityVSAvoiddrivetrain weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reducing gear set and differential gear set into a single integrated gear set with a conjoined carrier assembly. The sun gear serves as the input member, the ring gear provides reduction, and two planetary gear sets with conjoined carriers act as both reduction mechanisms and differentials, eliminating the need for separate gear sets and differentials while maintaining all-wheel drive capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs nested planetary gear sets where the first and second planetary gear sets are arranged concentrically with shared central elements. The conjoined carriers nest the two planetary systems together, allowing compact packaging that reduces overall component mass while providing dual-axis differential output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If compact integrated gear set is used, then packaging efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrivetrain volumeVSAvoidgear set assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated gear set is divided into modular components including the sun gear, ring gear, first planetary gear set, second planetary gear set, and conjoined carrier assembly. These segmented components can be manufactured and assembled separately, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the compact integrated design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the reducing gear set and differential gear set into a single integrated gear set with a conjoined carrier assembly. The sun gear serves as the input member, the ring gear provides reduction, and two planetary gear sets with conjoined carriers act as both reduction mechanisms and differentials, eliminating the need for separate gear sets and differentials while maintaining all-wheel drive capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9469186B2Drivetrain for a ground vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A drivetrain providing tractive torque to a ground vehicle includes a non-combustion torque machine coaxial to and rotatably coupled to an integrated gear set including a conjoined carrier assembly coupling a reducing gear set to a differential gear set. The differential gear set is coaxial to and rotatably coupled to first and second differential axle members. The first differential axle member couples to a first wheel assembly of the ground vehicle and the second differential axle member couples to a second wheel assembly located on a second, opposite side of the ground vehicle.