Multi-Drive Gear Combination Control for Torque and Resistance Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles with a single electric motor face inefficiencies in acceleration due to high power demands, overheating, and insufficient power at full loading, while multiple drive systems with electric motors can provide sufficient torque but require optimal gear combinations to balance power and resistance.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining a target gear combination based on force comparison between drive systems, utilizing electric motors and transmissions to ensure efficient operation by optimizing torque and resistance forces across different vehicle conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a single electric motor with very high maximum power is used to ensure sufficient acceleration, then acceleration capability is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates because the motor operates inefficiently at low power utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceleration capabilityVSAvoidenergy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle is divided into multiple independent drive systems, each with its own electric motor and transmission. This segmentation allows each motor to operate at optimal power levels while collectively providing sufficient total power for acceleration, resolving the contradiction between high acceleration capability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single electric motor is used to reduce device complexity, then system simplicity is improved, but power sufficiency deteriorates because one motor cannot provide adequate power at full vehicle loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of drive systemsVSAvoidtotal drive power

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle uses multiple independent drive systems instead of a single motor, allowing the total drive power to be distributed across several motors. This segmentation enables sufficient power output at full loading while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple drive systems are merged together to collectively provide the required total power. The combined output of several motors with individual transmissions achieves the necessary power level for full vehicle loading, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and power sufficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If a single electric motor operates at high power for extended periods to ensure sufficient acceleration, then acceleration capability is improved, but thermal reliability deteriorates due to overheating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceleration capabilityVSAvoidthermal reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle is divided into multiple independent drive systems with separate motors, allowing the thermal load to be distributed across multiple motors rather than concentrated in a single motor. This segmentation enables sustained acceleration capability while maintaining thermal reliability by preventing any one motor from overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple drive systems with different torque characteristic curves are used to adapt to different vehicle requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to vehicle requirementsVSAvoidtransmission configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed to universally handle multiple transmission types and gear configurations across different drive systems. This multi-functionality enables the system to adapt to various vehicle requirements with different torque characteristic curves while managing complexity through a unified control approach that can accommodate diverse transmission setups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250353381A1Force-based determination of a setpoint gear combination for multiple drive systems

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining a target gear combination for a vehicle having at least two drive systems, wherein each drive system drives a vehicle axle and each of the two drive systems has at least one electric motor and at least one transmission with in each case at least two gears; wherein the method comprises the following step: determining the target gear combination on the basis of a comparison of a longitudinal force demand with maximum total driving forces and/or minimum total resistance forces of possible gear combinations of the at least two gears of the at least two transmissions, wherein the maximum total driving forces are the sum of the maximum driving forces of the possible gear combinations and the minimum total resistance forces are the sum of the minimum resistance forces of the possible gear combinations.