Multi-Gear Transmission Layout With Range Clutches for Wider Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-speed transmissions with countershafts face increasing complexity and cost as the number of clutches and gears grows, necessitating a compact design that offers a wide range of gear and speed ratios while reducing load.
Innovation Solution
The transmission design incorporates an input direction assembly, multiple clutching assemblies, and range clutching assemblies within a housing, allowing for selective engagement of input and direction selection, gear selection, and range selection, enabling a compact layout with reduced component size and increased gear ratio spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of clutches and gears is increased to provide more gear selections, then the gear ratio spread and speed selections are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is divided into multiple independent clutch assemblies (first clutching assembly, second clutching assembly, first range clutching assembly, second range clutching assembly) that can be selectively engaged. Each clutch assembly handles specific gear ranges or functions, allowing the system to achieve complex gear ratio spreads through modular combinations rather than a single complex gear train.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch assemblies serve multiple functions: the first and second clutching assemblies handle different gear ranges, while the range clutching assemblies provide additional speed selections. This multi-functionality allows a single clutch mechanism to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated gears, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of clutches and gears is increased to provide more gear selections, then the gear ratio spread and speed selections are improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamically engageable clutch assemblies that can be activated or deactivated based on the desired gear selection. This dynamic approach allows the same physical components to serve multiple gear functions through selective engagement, reducing the need for manufacturing multiple dedicated gear sets and thereby lowering production costs while maintaining a wide range of speed selections.
3Volume of moving object
If the transmission is made compact, then the space occupied is reduced, but the load on transmission components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission layout utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of clutch assemblies and gear trains within the housing. By distributing components across multiple dimensions and levels rather than linear arrangement, the design achieves compact packaging while maintaining adequate spacing between load-bearing components, thus reducing space occupation without concentrating excessive torque loads on single points.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a transmission including an input direction assembly, a first clutching assembly, a second clutching assembly, a first range clutching assembly, a second range clutching assembly and a housing. The input and direction selection assembly includes an input shaft, a first direction selection clutch assembly, a second direction selection clutch assembly and a reversing gear in driving engagement with the second direction selection clutch assembly and the input shaft. The first clutching assembly is selectively drivingly engaged with the input and direction selection assembly and the first range clutching assembly. The second clutching assembly is selectively drivingly engaged with the input and direction selection assembly. The first range clutching assembly is selectively drivingly engaged with the second clutching assembly and the second range clutching assembly.