Vehicle Motor Housing Overlap Reduces Engine Room Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Series hybrid vehicles face challenges in reducing the size of the engine room in the front-rear direction due to the parallel orientation of the rotary shaft of the generating motor and the output shaft of the electric motor, leading to increased vehicle length.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design includes a horizontal engine with a reciprocating piston and a crankshaft positioned at an angle, where at least part of the motor housing overlaps below the engine or generator, allowing for a compact configuration with the generator's rotary shaft coaxial with the crankshaft, and the motor's output shaft parallel to the vehicle width, reducing the overall dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rotary shaft of the generating motor and the output shaft of the electric motor are disposed parallel to the vehicle width direction with the generating unit and electric motor aligned in the front-rear direction, then the power transmission path is simplified, but the engine room lengthens in the front-rear direction and the vehicle size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the electric motor from a front-rear aligned configuration to a configuration where the motor housing overlaps below the engine or generator. This spatial rearrangement in the vertical dimension allows the power transmission path to remain simple while reducing the front-rear length of the engine room, thereby solving the contradiction between transmission path simplicity and vehicle length.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor is nested below the engine or generator by overlapping the motor housing with the engine/generator space. This nesting arrangement allows both components to occupy overlapping vertical spaces, reducing the overall front-rear footprint while maintaining the direct power transmission path from the generating motor through the battery to the electric motor.
2Productivity
If the generating unit and electric motor are disposed aligned in the front-rear direction, then the power generation and drive functions are efficiently arranged, but the engine room size increases in the front-rear direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the electric motor arrangement from a linear front-rear alignment to a overlapping vertical arrangement where the motor housing is positioned below the engine or generator. This dimensional change reduces the front-rear extent of the engine room while preserving the efficient power flow path, thus reducing engine room volume without compromising productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the spatial occupation of the electric motor with the engine or generator by positioning the motor housing to overlap below these components. This merging of spaces reduces the total engine room volume required, while the functional connection between the generating unit and electric motor remains efficient for power transmission.
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
This configuration reduces the vehicle's size in both the front-rear and height directions, improves combustion efficiency, and allows for a weight reduction by omitting the drive shaft, while also simplifying cooling and heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
an engine that burns a gaseous mixture in a cylinder to generate a drive force
Implementation Method 2
a generator that is rotated by the drive force to generate electricity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A vehicle 10 includes an engine 19, a generator 20, and a motor 22. The engine 19 burns a gaseous mixture in a cylinder to output a drive force. The generator 20 generates electricity by being rotated by the drive force outputted from the engine 19. The motor 22 drives by utilizing electric power generated by the generator 20 or electric power that has accumulated in a battery charged with electric power generated by the generator 20, and the motor 22 thereby outputs a vehicle-running drive force. A case 61 covering the motor 22 is of larger diameter than a case 65 covering a differential. The motor 22 has an output shaft outputting the vehicle-running drive force, and has the output shaft disposed parallel to a vehicle width direction. The generator 20 is disposed such that part of the generator 20 overlaps an upper section 65a of the case covering the differential.