Vehicle Powertrain Layout for Lubricant Flow and Debris Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powertrain designs face challenges in efficiently packaging components while minimizing power losses and sedimentation of particles in lubricants, particularly in heavy-duty vehicles, where compactness and lubricant flow are critical.
Innovation Solution
The powertrain incorporates an eccentric configuration for the lubricant compartment, with a connecting interface that allows efficient lubricant flow between transmission housings, reducing the risk of lubricant stalling and incorporating separate lubricant compartments for the transmission and differential gear to prevent debris transfer, and utilizing concentric shafts for torque transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional concentric lubricant compartment configuration is used, then the transmission housing structure is simple, but lubricant flow efficiency deteriorates and sedimentation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by defining an eccentric inner perimeter profile in the lubricant compartment that is intentionally offset from the rotational axis. This asymmetric configuration creates non-uniform clearance spaces that facilitate continuous lubricant circulation and prevent sedimentation, directly resolving the contradiction between flow efficiency and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If separate lubricant compartments are used for transmission and differential gear, then debris transfer is prevented, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the lubricant compartment into distinct sections: a first lubricant compartment for the transmission gearwheels and a second lubricant compartment for the differential gear. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination of lubricants and isolates debris sources, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.
3Loss of energy
If the inner perimeter profile is concentric with the rotational axis, then manufacturing is easier, but lubricant gets stuck in pockets causing power losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by employing an eccentric inner perimeter profile that is offset from the rotational axis. This asymmetric design eliminates dead zones and lubricant pockets where fluid would otherwise stagnate, ensuring continuous flow and preventing energy losses, while the offset configuration remains manufacturable using conventional processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a powertrain for a vehicle, comprising:a transmission and a differential gear which are drivingly connected to each other, wherein the differential gear is configured to be drivingly connected to driving wheels of the vehicle;wherein the transmission comprises a first set of gearwheels and a second set of gearwheels, at least one gearwheel of the first set of gearwheels being drivingly connected to at least one gearwheel of the second set of gearwheels via at least a first shaft which is configured to rotate about a first rotational axis,wherein the first set of gearwheels is arranged on a first side of the differential gear and the second set of gearwheels is arranged on a second opposite side of the differential gear. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle.