Segmented Third Bearing Element for Compact Drive Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive units in motor vehicles require significant space for the third bearing element, limiting installation space for axial support and causing noise due to radial play between the drive shaft and bearing element.
Innovation Solution
The third bearing element is designed to be arranged laterally in a partial area of the transmission housing, with a contact element in constant contact with the drive shaft, using an elastic intermediate element to generate a contact force, allowing for compact design and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the third bearing element is designed as a one-piece sleeve-shaped component surrounding the drive shaft on its entire circumference, then it provides comprehensive lateral support for the drive shaft, but it requires a relatively large amount of space in the transmission housing and limits installation space for axial support
Solution Approach 1:
The third bearing element is segmented into a bearing section and a contact element separated by an elastic intermediate section. The contact element is positioned to touch the drive shaft at a single point or small area rather than surrounding it completely, reducing the space required in the transmission housing while still providing effective lateral support.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing uniform support around the entire circumference of the drive shaft, the bearing element concentrates its support function at a specific location where the contact element touches the drive shaft. This localized approach reduces the overall space requirement while maintaining the necessary lateral support function.
2Ease of manufacture
If radial play is allowed between the drive shaft and the third bearing element due to component tolerances, then assembly is easier, but the drive shaft periodically touches or strikes the bearing element causing annoying noise
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic intermediate section between the bearing section and contact element allows the contact element to dynamically adjust its position. When the drive shaft moves within tolerances, the elastic section deforms to maintain constant contact, preventing periodic striking and noise while still allowing for assembly tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic intermediate section acts as a mediator between the rigid bearing section and the drive shaft. It absorbs radial play and tolerance variations, ensuring continuous contact between the contact element and drive shaft without transmitting impact forces that would cause noise.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the third bearing element is arranged in a receptacle over its entire circumference, then it provides stable mounting, but it limits the possibility of axial support for the end region of the drive shaft
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bearing element into separate functional sections (bearing section for lateral support and contact element for shaft contact), the design frees up axial space that can be used for axial support structures, while the bearing section remains stably mounted in the receptacle.
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 design minimizes space requirements, enables axial support, and eliminates noise issues by ensuring constant contact between the bearing element and drive shaft, resulting in a more compact and quiet comfort drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
the contact element is connected to a bearing section of the third bearing element by at least one elastic intermediate element, that the bearing section is molded or is arranged clamped, and that the intermediate element generates a contact force on the contact element in the direction of the drive shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drive unit (100), with a bearing device (50) for a drive motor (1) which interacts with a gearing element (13) via a drive shaft (2) which is supported at multiple points, with a first bearing element (3) which is arranged on that side of the drive motor (1) which is opposite the gearing element (13), a second bearing element (4) which is arranged between the drive motor (1) and the gearing element (13), and a third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) which is arranged on that side of the gearing element (13) which faces away from the drive motor (1), wherein the third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) is arranged movably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (21) of the drive shaft (2), and wherein the third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) is accommodated in a receptacle (38; 38a; 66) of a gearbox (10).