Modular Transmission Assembly Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle transmissions used in electric, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles face challenges due to energy waste caused by reliance on hydraulics and friction, limiting their range and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A transmission assembly that utilizes a combination of gearsets and controllable clutches and brakes to control torque without friction or hydraulics, allowing for efficient torque transfer between input and output shafts, enabling efficient operation in electric vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional transmission systems use hydraulics and friction to control torque, then torque control is achieved, but energy loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the hydraulic system from the transmission assembly, replacing it with a direct mechanical gearset system. The gearsets directly engage to transfer torque without requiring hydraulic fluid or friction-based clutches, thereby removing the source of energy loss while maintaining torque control capability through mechanical engagement alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic-mechanical system with a pure mechanical gearset system. The gearsets use direct tooth-to-tooth mechanical engagement to control torque transmission, substituting the hydraulic actuation and friction-based torque control with efficient mechanical gear engagement that eliminates energy loss associated with hydraulic systems
2Productivity
If traditional transmissions use friction-based clutches and brakes, then torque control is achieved, but efficiency decreases due to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes friction-based clutches and brakes from the transmission system, replacing them with a controllable clutch mechanism that uses magnetic or electromagnetic fields to engage and disengage torque transfer. This extraction of friction-based components eliminates the energy waste inherent in friction-based torque control while maintaining the ability to control torque flow through the gearsets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes friction-based mechanical torque control with a magnetic or electromagnetic field-based controllable clutch. This replacement eliminates the energy waste associated with friction while providing precise control over torque transmission through field-based engagement and disengagement of the clutch mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A modular transmission assembly facilitates its use in all classes of trucks. The transmission is designed to receive one, two or three inputs. In addition, it can add torque multiplying gearsets when needed. The transmission assembly utilizes two gearsets configured in ring-carrier/ring-carrier configuration to operate as a four-node transmission. Two input shafts are coaxial with one inside the other (input shaft 1 inside input shaft 2) allowing torque from the second input to be received directly at the output shaft of the transmission. The transmission includes two controllable clutches coupling the second input with the two gearsets. Two controllable brakes selectively couple various gears of the gearsets to ground. Controlling the clutches and brakes controls the torque of the output shaft as a function of torques received by the first and second input shafts.