Power Split Tracked Vehicle Drive System for Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armored military tracked vehicles face reduced mobility due to weight increases from enhanced protection, which cannot be adequately addressed by simply upgrading the drive motor without adapting the transmission, leading to reduced maximum speed.
Innovation Solution
A power split system is implemented, using a more powerful drive motor to generate electrical power via a flywheel generator, which is then used to drive electric motors in deflection wheels, balancing mechanical and electrical power introduction and enabling increased mobility without altering the existing transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a more powerful drive motor is installed to compensate for weight increase from enhanced protection, then drive power is improved, but the transmission must be adapted which reduces maximum speed
Solution Approach 1:
The drive power is segmented into two independent paths: a mechanical path through the existing transmission to the chain drive wheels, and an electrical path through the generator and electric motors to the deflection wheels. This allows the more powerful drive motor to increase overall power without requiring transmission adaptation, as the electrical path bypasses the transmission entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric generator acts as an intermediary that converts mechanical energy from the drive motor into electrical energy, which then drives the electric motors independently of the mechanical transmission system. This intermediary enables power transfer without the constraints of the existing transmission gear ratios.
2Power
If the transmission is adapted to accommodate a more powerful drive motor, then drive power is improved, but the transmission ratio must be reduced which decreases maximum speed
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission is divided into separate mechanical and electrical segments. The mechanical segment uses the existing transmission unchanged, while the electrical segment adds a generator-motor pair that operates independently, avoiding the need to modify the transmission system.
3Ease of operation
If electric motors are added to drive deflection wheels, then mobility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motors driven by the generator serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide creep operation capability, enable underwater travel, improve mobility through deflection wheel control, and can contribute to braking and steering functions, thereby justifying the added complexity through versatile functionality.
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 solution allows for increased drive power and improved mobility in tracked vehicles, enabling creep operation and underwater travel, while reducing weight and cost through the use of electric motors and efficient energy management, without the need for an auxiliary power unit.
Implementation Method 1
a flywheel generator (6), which converts a part of the drive power resulting from the use of the more powerful drive motor (4) into electric power
Implementation Method 2
electric motors (15), which are supplied with the electric power generated by the flywheel generator (6)
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle (1) has reciprocal tracks (2) driving in a rear-side chain drive wheel or front-side chain drive wheel (13) and turned back by detour wheels (14) i.e. roller, axially facing the chain drive wheel. A drive motor (4) is connected with a generator (6) for generating electricity. The detour wheels are coupled with an electromotor (15) as another chain drive wheel. The generator is connected with the electromotor through a control device (16). The generator is provided such that electrical power generated by the generator is acted on the electromotor to drive the detour wheels.