Portable Drive Unit for Commercial Vehicle Auxiliary Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive units for commercial vehicles, such as truck trailers, are limited by the need for a central supply network for additional motors, making them unusable when separated from the towing vehicle, and result in inefficiencies and additional weight when permanently installed.

Innovation Solution

A portable drive unit with a motor and generator in a compact housing, featuring fastening means for easy assembly and disassembly, and a control unit for targeted energy distribution to auxiliary drives, allowing independent operation and maneuvering of commercial vehicles without a towing vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the auxiliary drive is permanently installed on the commercial vehicle and remains in contact with the wheels, then the auxiliary drive can continuously provide drive force, but this results in additional weight and resistance at the wheels which makes the operation of the commercial vehicle inefficient and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous availability of auxiliary driveVSAvoidweight at wheels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary drive system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic removable configuration. The drive unit can be attached when needed and removed when not needed, allowing the system to adapt its weight and presence based on operational requirements rather than being permanently fixed to the vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the auxiliary drive is permanently installed on the commercial vehicle, then the auxiliary drive is always available for use, but this increases the weight and space requirements on the commercial vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of auxiliary driveVSAvoidinstallation weight on vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is divided into separate modular components - the drive unit with motor and generator can be independently attached or detached from the commercial vehicle. This segmentation allows the heavy components to be present only when needed rather than permanently installed, reducing both weight and space requirements during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the auxiliary drive is connected to the central electrical system or hydraulics of the towing vehicle, then the auxiliary drive can be powered, but when the commercial vehicle is detached from the towing vehicle and no central power supply network is available, the auxiliary motors cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedependence on central power supplyVSAvoidoperability when detached

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A portable energy storage device (battery or hydraulic accumulator) serves as an intermediary between the drive unit and the auxiliary motor. This intermediary stores energy locally within the drive unit, eliminating the need for a central power supply network and enabling operation when detached from the towing vehicle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If a portable drive unit with motor and generator is used to power auxiliary drives, then the drive unit can operate independently without a central power supply, but this requires additional weight and installation space on the commercial vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent operation capabilityVSAvoidweight of drive unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is segmented into a portable drive unit that can be separately attached to the commercial vehicle only when independent operation is needed. This allows the vehicle to operate lightly during normal towing operations while gaining independent capability when required, rather than permanently carrying the drive unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective operation of commercial vehicles by providing drive energy on demand, reducing weight and space requirements, and allowing maneuvering in confined spaces like construction sites without a towing vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

the motor (4) converts the energy of a drive medium (42) into kinetic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the generator (6) converts kinetic energy into a potential (62), wherein the potential (62) can be generated between at least two output lines (64)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3199433B1Drive unit

Publication Date: 2019.12.25 SAF HOLLAND GMBH

Figure 1

AI summary

This relates to a drive unit, in particular for commercial vehicles, comprising a motor (4) and a generator (6), wherein the motor converts the energy of a drive medium into kinetic energy and transfers this to the generator, wherein the generator converts kinetic energy into a potential, wherein the potential can be generated between at least two output lines (64) of the generator, wherein an auxiliary drive (8) for a commercial vehicle can be connected to the output lines, wherein the motor and the generator are arranged in a housing (22) which has a fastening means (24) for fixing to a commercial vehicle.