Lateral Work Vehicle Drive Train Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive train configurations for work vehicles, which include a combination of engine, hydrostatic transmission, and mechanical transmission oriented in the fore-and-aft direction, result in increased vehicle length and require expensive bevel gears due to perpendicular orientation of transmission shafts relative to the axles.
Innovation Solution
A drive train configuration where the engine and mechanical transmission are mounted laterally, with the hydrostatic transmission positioned between them, allowing all components to be oriented in the lateral direction, reducing vehicle length and utilizing flat gears instead of bevel gears for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the engine, hydrostatic transmission, and mechanical transmission are arranged in the fore-and-aft direction in series, then the power transmission path is straightforward, but the vehicle length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a conventional fore-and-aft linear arrangement to a lateral arrangement where the engine, hydrostatic transmission, and mechanical transmission are positioned side-by-side. This spatial reconfiguration in the lateral dimension reduces the fore-and-aft length of the vehicle while maintaining the power transmission function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by integrating the hydrostatic transmission housing to extend from the engine to the mechanical transmission, creating a compact nested structure. The output shaft of the engine connects to the pump shaft of the hydrostatic transmission, which in turn connects to the input shaft of the mechanical transmission within the same housing space, reducing overall vehicle length.
2Ease of manufacture
If the transmission shafts are oriented perpendicular to the axles in the fore-and-aft direction, then the power transmission alignment is simple, but expensive bevel gears are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by replacing expensive bevel gears with cheaper flat gears. By reorienting the transmission shafts to extend in the lateral direction parallel to the axles, the system can use simple flat gears for power transmission instead of costly bevel gears, significantly reducing component costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the transmission shafts from fore-and-aft (perpendicular to axles) to lateral (parallel to axles). This parameter change enables the use of flat gears instead of bevel gears, simplifying the gear type and reducing manufacturing costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive train for a work vehicle comprises: an engine mounted to a vehicle body such that an output shaft of the engine extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle body; a hydrostatic transmission having a pump shaft, a motor shaft, and a housing, the hydrostatic transmission being mounted to the vehicle body such that the pump shaft and the motor shaft extend in the lateral direction; a mechanical transmission having a plurality of transmission shafts each of which extends in the lateral direction. A pump side portion of the housing of the hydrostatic transmission is connected to an end plate of the engine and a motor side portion of the housing is connected to a casing of the mechanical transmission so that the housing extends from the engine to the mechanical transmission.