Modular Vehicle Transmission Actuation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle transmission components face significant cost pressure due to the need for extensive structural changes to adapt to different applications, limiting their versatility and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular vehicle transmission family with an essentially structurally identical actuation system that can actuate either a parking lock or a clutch, allowing for easy conversion between applications by exchanging only the functional unit connected to the actuation system, while maintaining a standardized interface and fixed position relative to transmission components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle transmission components are designed for different applications with extensive structural changes, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation system is designed with universal functionality to operate both parking locks and clutches through a standardized interface. The actuator shaft with actuation cone and corresponding actuation input elements create a multi-functional system where the same actuation mechanism serves different functional units, eliminating the need for application-specific structural changes and reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission system is segmented into modular components: a standardized actuation system module and interchangeable functional unit modules (parking lock or clutch). This segmentation allows the actuation system to remain constant while only the functional units are exchanged between applications, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extensive structural changes are made to adapt transmission components to different applications, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation system employs a universal design where the actuator shaft, actuation cone, and interface elements remain identical across different applications. This universality reduces structural complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized actuation systems while maintaining versatility through interchangeable functional units.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the transmission into a permanent standardized actuation system and interchangeable functional units, the overall structural complexity is reduced. Each segment is simplified in design, and the standardized interface between segments minimizes the complexity of integration.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized actuation systems are used across different transmission applications, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to specific functional requirements may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized actuation system achieves universality by designing the actuator shaft with a universal actuation interface that can engage with different functional units (parking lock pawl or clutch actuation lever). This universal interface maintains manufacturing simplicity while adapting to different functional requirements through the interchangeable functional units themselves.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a family of vehicle transmissions comprising at least one first vehicle transmission and a second vehicle transmission, wherein the first and the second vehicle transmissions have a modular design, and both vehicle transmissions comprise an actuating system that is substantially identical in construction. The actuation system is provided in the first vehicle transmission for actuating a parking brake and in the second vehicle transmission for actuating a functional unit different from the parking brake, particularly a clutch.