Manual Actuator Adjustment for Electric Vehicle Variator Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift-assisted systems with variator transmissions rely exclusively on motor-operated actuators for adjusting transmission ratios, leaving drivers without mechanical intervention options in case of electrical system failures, making it difficult to continue driving, especially uphill or during repairs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a mechanically operable actuator adjustment device that allows manual adjustment of transmission ratios, accessible only when the vehicle is stationary, to enable emergency actuation and prevent damage to the mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the transmission ratio is adjusted exclusively via motor-operated actuator, then the automation and ease of operation are improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to inability to manually intervene during electrical system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system is segmented into two independent parts: an electric motor-operated actuator for normal automatic shifting, and a manually operable actuator adjustment device for emergency situations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function while maintaining system reliability through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating mode of the actuator from exclusively electrically driven to having both electric and manual operation modes. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different operational conditions, maintaining reliability even when the electrical system fails.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment is always accessible, then the ease of operation for emergency situations is improved, but the risk of injury and actuator damage increases due to potential operation during motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preventing manual adjustment during vehicle motion through the disengageable connection mechanism. This preemptive measure blocks potentially harmful operations before they can occur, while still allowing necessary manual adjustments when the vehicle is stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the manual adjustment device and the actuator is made dynamic rather than fixed. The disengageable connection allows the system to switch between engaged (manual adjustment possible) and disengaged (manual adjustment blocked) states based on vehicle motion status, thereby preventing harmful operations.
3Device complexity
If the actuator adjustment device is integrated into the motor unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to limited accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator adjustment device is nested within or integrated into the motor unit housing, creating a compact assembly that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining functional independence. This nesting allows the manual adjustment device to be space-efficient yet still accessible for repair operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a transmission arrangement (10) for a means of transportation operated by an electric drive, comprising a variator transmission (3) with a transmission ratio adjustable by means of a motor-operated actuator (4), and to an associated means of transportation. The transmission arrangement (10) further comprises a mechanically operable actuator adjustment device (20) and is configured to allow the transmission ratio to be manually adjusted by means of the actuator adjustment device (20).