Regenerative Differential Gear Control for Vehicle Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing differential systems for vehicles, both differentially steered and front-wheel steered, face inefficiencies and imprecisions due to reliance on friction for steering control, leading to issues like wheel slip and reduced drivetrain efficiency, especially in uneven traction conditions.
Innovation Solution
A gearing assembly with a differential and a variable speed reversible motor that controls the rotation rate of axle shafts through a differential control pinion gear, allowing precise control of differential rotation rates without relying on friction, thereby preventing slip and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If friction-based differential braking is used to control steering, then steering control is achieved, but drivetrain efficiency is reduced due to frictional losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based mechanical braking with a gear-based mechanical system. The differential gear assembly uses intermeshing gears (including bevel gears and planetary gears) to control the rotation rates of left and right axles through positive mechanical engagement rather than friction, eliminating energy loss to friction while maintaining steering control.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential gear system automatically distributes power to the left and right axles based on the vehicle's turning state. The gear geometry inherently provides the appropriate differential rotation rates without requiring active control or energy input, allowing the system to self-regulate power distribution and maintain efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If friction-based differential braking is used to control steering, then steering control is achieved, but precision is reduced due to difficulty in achieving exact rotation rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based control with precision gear-based control. The differential gear assembly uses intermeshing gears (including bevel gears and planetary gears) to control the rotation rates of left and right axles through positive mechanical engagement rather than friction, eliminating energy loss to friction while maintaining steering control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control mechanism from friction-based (continuous but imprecise) to gear-based (discrete but precise) rotation rate control. The gear ratios and differential geometry provide exact, predetermined rotation rate relationships between axles, improving precision while maintaining operational ease.
3Measurement precision
If multiple control shafts and intermeshing gears are used to achieve regenerative differential control, then steering authority and precision are improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive shaft and control shaft into a single integrated assembly. The differential gear assembly receives power from the drive shaft and automatically distributes it to the left and right axles through the gear mechanism, eliminating the need for separate control shafts and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential gear assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits power from the drive shaft, provides differential rotation for steering, and controls the rotation rates of both axles through a single integrated mechanism rather than requiring separate control systems for each function.
4Ease of operation
If conventional open differential is used in front-wheel steered vehicles, then steering agility is preserved and tire wear is prevented during normal operation, but wheel slip occurs under slippery or unequal traction conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based open differential with a gear-based differential system. The intermeshing gears provide positive mechanical engagement that maintains precise control over power distribution to each wheel, preventing wheel slip under slippery conditions while preserving steering agility through the inherent differential geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential gear system automatically adapts power distribution to traction conditions through its mechanical design. The gear-based system inherently prevents wheel slip by maintaining positive engagement and controlled rotation rates without requiring active intervention, while still allowing differential rotation for steering maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, gearing assemblies and methods for controlling a differential rotation rate between shafts of a vehicle using a variable speed reversible motor. An embodiment includes a gearing assembly including a differential configured to engage a first axle shaft, a second axle shaft, and a drive shaft of a vehicle. The gearing assembly further includes a first plurality of alignment gears and a second plurality of adjustment gears configured to engage the differential, configured to be driven by a variable speed reversible motor of the vehicle, and configured to controllably alter a rotation rate of a first axle shaft relative to a rotation rate of the second axle shaft based on rotation produced by the variable speed reversible motor.