Vehicle Powertrain Coupling Eliminates Gearbox Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional powertrains with internal combustion engines and gearboxes are heavy, inefficient, and contribute to increased fuel consumption and environmental impact due to energy losses and the need for gear shifting, which hinders fast acceleration and increases vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A powertrain configuration that eliminates the gearbox by using a coupling with two operational states (mechanical and fluid coupling) and an electric motor to supply torque directly to the drivetrain, allowing for efficient torque transfer at various rotational speeds without gear shifting, thereby optimizing acceleration and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gearbox is used in the drivetrain, then the combustion engine can operate optimally at a broader range of vehicle speeds, but the vehicle weight increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gearbox from the drivetrain, extracting only the essential function of speed adaptation. The combustion engine is directly coupled to the drive wheel through a clutch, eliminating the heavy gearbox while maintaining the ability to operate at different speeds through clutch engagement/disengagement and direct mechanical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical gearbox system with a simpler direct coupling mechanism controlled by a clutch. The clutch allows the combustion engine to be decoupled from the drive wheel when not in use, providing speed adaptability without requiring a multi-gear mechanical transmission system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a gearbox is used in the drivetrain, then the combustion engine can operate optimally at a broader range of vehicle speeds, but energy losses increase during torque conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The gearbox is completely removed from the system, eliminating all energy losses associated with gear meshing, friction, and mechanical conversion. The direct coupling between the combustion engine and drive wheel through the clutch minimizes energy losses while still providing operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct coupling mechanism maintains continuous torque transmission when engaged, without the interruptions and efficiency losses associated with gear shifting. The clutch provides smooth engagement and disengagement, maintaining continuous useful action during operation.
3Ease of operation
If a clutch is used to allow slippage between combustion engine and drive wheel, then the combustion engine can operate at minimum rotational speed, but acceleration performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch provides dynamic control of the mechanical coupling between the combustion engine and drive wheel. It can transition between engaged (locked) and disengaged (slipping) states, allowing the system to adapt to different operational requirements including acceleration and idle conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch enables periodic engagement and disengagement of the mechanical coupling, allowing the combustion engine to operate at minimum rotational speed during idle periods while providing rapid torque transmission during acceleration phases when engaged.
4Speed
If the combustion engine is directly coupled to the drive wheel without slippage, then acceleration performance improves, but the combustion engine cannot operate when drive wheel is stationary or rotating slower
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch provides dynamic control, allowing the mechanical coupling to be engaged for direct acceleration and disengaged when the drive wheel is stationary or rotating slower than the engine's minimum operational speed. This enables the system to adapt to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The clutch acts as an intermediary between the combustion engine and the direct mechanical coupling to the drive wheel. It mediates the connection, allowing engagement for direct torque transmission during acceleration and disengagement when speed mismatch exists, providing operational flexibility.
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 configuration enhances vehicle acceleration, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes environmental impact by eliminating the need for gear shifting and the weight of a gearbox, while allowing for efficient torque delivery at low or zero rotational speeds.
Implementation Method 1
the input of the coupling is locked to the output of the coupling for avoiding slippage there between
Implementation Method 2
In the second state of operation, the input of the coupling is not locked to the output of the coupling for allowing slippage there between
Data Source
AI summary
A powertrain for a vehicle includes a combustion engine and a drivetrain having a coupling with a first state of operation in which the input of the coupling is locked to the output of the coupling, and a second state of operation in which the input of the coupling is not locked to the output of the coupling for allowing slippage. The drivetrain also has a final drive configured for supplying torque to a drive wheel from the coupling, wherein the final drive is coupled to the coupling at a fixed gear ratio. The powertrain further includes one or more electric motors configured to supply torque to the drivetrain one or both of the input side and the output side of the coupling.