Modular Electrical Drive Unit with Common Main Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical drive units for vehicles face challenges in compactness, efficiency, and adaptability due to the need for extensive installation space and high friction losses, particularly in smaller vehicles like motorcycles and scooters, where multiple electrical machines require complex and inefficient coupling systems.
Innovation Solution
A modular electrical drive unit with a receiving unit that can accommodate a variable number of structurally independent electrical machines, connected via a common main shaft and coupling element, allowing for scalable torque output and efficient power transmission with minimal components, using identical machines for cost-effectiveness and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple electrical machines are coupled using belt or chain drives to achieve higher output torques, then the drive unit can provide increased power, but the installation space requirement increases significantly and friction losses elevate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrical machines onto a single common output shaft, eliminating the need for separate belt or chain drive systems. This consolidation allows multiple machines to contribute their torque directly to the same output axis, achieving high output torque without requiring additional coupling space that would be needed for belt or chain drives between separate machines and transmissions.
2Power
If multiple electrical machines are coupled using belt or chain drives to achieve higher output torques, then the drive unit can provide increased power, but the friction losses and heat inputs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple electrical machines on a single common output shaft, the patent eliminates intermediate belt or chain drive elements that would generate friction losses. The direct coupling allows torque from multiple machines to be summed without the energy losses associated with friction in belt or chain drives, thereby reducing overall friction losses and heat generation in the drive system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If identical electrical machines are coupled together for modular kit approaches to achieve variable output, then the drive unit can be adapted to different vehicle requirements, but a suitable coupling transmission with housing must be developed for each vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal modular platform where identical electrical machines can be coupled to a common output shaft in various configurations (1, 2, 3, or more machines). This universal design allows the same basic coupling transmission and housing structure to serve multiple vehicle applications with different torque requirements, eliminating the need to develop custom coupling transmissions for each vehicle type. The system achieves adaptability through quantity variation rather than structural redesign.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a compact, cost-effective, and efficient drive unit that can be easily adapted to various torque requirements, minimizing efficiency losses and installation space constraints, suitable for diverse vehicle classes including motorcycles and scooters.
Implementation Method 1
Hybrid or electric vehicles comprise at least one electrical machine as drive machine
Implementation Method 2
a coupling element, via which the machine output shafts are operationally connected on the driving side to the main shaft for inputting the machine torques
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical drive unit for a vehicle includes a number of structurally independently designed electrical machines. In each of the electrical machines there is a machine output shaft configured to provide a machine torque, and in each of the electrical machines there is inserted in a receiving region assigned to it and is connected to the receiving unit. The number of the inserted electrical machines is predetermined as a function of a specified value, which is prespecified in advance for an output-side characteristic quantity of the drive unit to be constructed. The number of the inserted electrical machines is between 1 and a maximum number. The electrical drive unit also includes a common main shaft, via which the drive unit is configured to provide a drive unit torque on the output side, and a coupling element, via which the machine output shafts are operationally connected on the driving side to the main shaft to input the machine torques.