Replaceable Engine Generator Unit for Vehicle Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine vehicles require lengthy maintenance times, which inconvenience users and can lead to increased downtime due to the complexity of maintaining engines without efficient solutions for reducing maintenance duration.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with an integrated engine generator unit that includes an electromotive driving unit, a generator, and a control device capable of outputting electric power directly to the driving unit without a battery, along with a store visit prompting signal to facilitate timely maintenance, allowing for easier replacement and reduced maintenance time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the engine is maintained using conventional methods, then the maintenance can be performed at a service center, but the maintenance time is relatively long and causes user inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system is divided into a movable vehicle body and a separately replaceable engine generator unit. The engine generator unit can be detached from the vehicle body and replaced as a complete module, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site maintenance operations. Users can simply swap the unit at a service center and continue using the vehicle immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine generator unit is designed as a disposable-like module that can be discarded (removed) from the vehicle body when maintenance is needed, and a freshly maintained unit is recovered (installed) in its place. This approach eliminates the need for prolonged maintenance operations on the vehicle itself.
2Ease of repair
If the engine generator unit is designed as a physically integrated replaceable module, then the replacement process is simplified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device, engine, and generator are merged into a single physically integrated engine generator unit. This combination allows the entire power generation system to be replaced as one module, simplifying the repair process significantly compared to maintaining separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine generator unit is designed as a universal module that can be attached to and detached from the vehicle body multiple times. The unit serves multiple functions (power generation, control, and self-contained operation) and can be reused after maintenance, making the system adaptable and flexible.
3Reliability
If a battery is removed from the system, then the power generation control is not influenced by battery voltage constraints, but the system requires direct electric power output to the electromotive driving unit
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is extracted from the power generation system. This removal eliminates the constraints imposed by battery voltage on the power generation control, allowing the generator to operate more efficiently and reliably without needing to charge or discharge a battery intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric power output unit serves as a direct intermediary between the generator and the electromotive driving unit, eliminating the need for a battery. This direct power transmission path simplifies the energy flow and removes voltage constraints while maintaining system 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
The integrated engine generator unit simplifies maintenance by enabling quick replacement and reducing downtime, enhancing user convenience and extending the lifespan of engine components by promoting regular maintenance and preventing abnormality-related travel disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a generator (10) configured to generate electric power, the generator (10) driven by the engine (14)
Implementation Method 2
an electromotive driving unit (19) mounted on the vehicle body (D), the electromotive driving unit (19) driven electrically
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle, or the like, that is as convenient as an engine vehicle from the user's viewpoint and able to shorten a maintenance time for maintenance of the engine vehicle from the user's viewpoint. The vehicle includes: a vehicle body; an electromotive driving unit mounted on the vehicle body, the electromotive driving unit driven electrically; an engine operable with a liquid fuel; a generator that generates electric power, the generator driven by the engine; and a control device including a power generation control unit and an electric power output unit, the power generation control unit outputting a signal for controlling the engine and the generator, the electric power output unit outputting electric power generated by the generator to the electromotive driving unit, the control device in combination with the engine and the generator constituting a physically integrated unit that is mountable to and dismountable from the vehicle body, the control device configured to output a store visit promotion signal to an informing device while the unit is mounted on the vehicle body, the informing device prompting a visit to a store where the unit is replaceable, the control device directing the electric power output unit to output electric power to the electromotive driving unit without interposition of a battery while the unit is mounted on the vehicle body