Modular Multi-Input Transmission Assembly for Frictionless Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle transmissions that rely on hydraulics and friction are inefficient and energy wasteful, making them unsuitable for electric vehicles, and existing hybrid vehicle powertrains lack essential functions like hill-hold and park due to hydraulic friction clutches.
Innovation Solution
A transmission assembly that utilizes electric motors and gearsets without friction or hydraulics, incorporating controllable clutches and brakes to manage torque from multiple inputs, enabling efficient operation and additional modes like hill-hold and park.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional hydraulics and friction are used in transmission, then torque control is achieved, but energy waste increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional hydraulic and friction-based torque control mechanisms with an electric motor-driven system. The transmission assembly uses an electric motor to directly control the output shaft, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid pressure and friction clutches. This substitution of mechanical systems with an electrically-controlled system resolves the contradiction by removing the inherent energy losses associated with hydraulic friction while maintaining effective torque control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic friction clutches are used, then torque transmission is enabled, but essential functions like hill-hold and park cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal transmission assembly that can perform multiple functions including hill-hold, park, and various driving modes. The electric motor-driven transmission assembly is designed to provide torque control in both forward and reverse directions, and can maintain static position (hill-hold) or locked state (park) through controlled motor operation. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by enabling essential functions that were previously unavailable in hybrid vehicle powertrains while maintaining reliable torque transmission.
3Use of energy by moving object
If traditional transmission design is used, then torque control is achieved, but energy efficiency for EVs is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical transmission system with an electrically-controlled transmission assembly that directly couples the electric motor to the output shaft. This eliminates energy losses inherent in traditional mechanical transmissions including hydraulic friction, gear mesh losses, and clutch slip. The direct electric control allows for precise torque management and regenerative braking capability, significantly improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining or enhancing powertrain performance through optimized motor control.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
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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.