Single-Motor Gear Actuator Axial-Rotational Shift Gate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor vehicle transmission designs require multiple electric motors for gear shifting and selection, leading to complexity and potential operational safety issues during gear engagement and disengagement processes.
Innovation Solution
A single-motor gear actuator design with a shift gate mechanism that allows for axial and rotational movement, utilizing a combination of main and auxiliary actuating elements to engage and disengage gears safely, incorporating an active-interlock mechanism for operational safety and reduced motor count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electric motors are used for gear shifting and selection, then the gear actuation functionality is comprehensive, but the device complexity increases and operational safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple electric motors into a single electric motor that performs both gear shifting and gear selection operations. The single motor drives a gear-shift shaft that incorporates both axial movement (for selection) and rotational movement (for shifting), eliminating the need for separate selector motor and shifting motor while maintaining comprehensive gear actuation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The single electric motor is designed to perform multiple functions: it generates both the selecting movement (axial displacement of gear-shift shaft) and the shifting movement (rotation of gear-shift shaft). The gear-shift shaft itself is designed as a multi-functional component that combines selection and shifting capabilities in one element, reducing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electric motors are used for gear shifting and selection, then the gear actuation functionality is comprehensive, but the operational safety during gear engagement and disengagement may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an active-interlock mechanism that performs preliminary actions to ensure operational safety. The interlock mechanism includes blocking parts that prevent premature gear engagement or disengagement by blocking the gear-shift shaft until proper conditions are met. This preliminary blocking action ensures that gears are only engaged or disengaged when the transmission is in the correct state, preventing unsafe operations
Solution Approach 2:
The active-interlock mechanism provides feedback control for gear engagement and disengagement operations. The blocking parts monitor the position and state of the gear-shift shaft, and only allow movement when appropriate conditions are satisfied. This feedback mechanism ensures that gear actuation operations are performed safely and prevents erroneous engagement or disengagement
3Device complexity
If a single electric motor is used for both selecting and shifting, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision of movement control may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control mechanisms to maintain precision despite using a single motor. The gear-shift shaft is designed with differential movement capabilities, allowing it to respond dynamically to control signals for both axial selection movements and rotational shifting movements. The system can dynamically adjust the distribution of motor torque between the two movement types based on operational requirements, maintaining precision for both functions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a gear actuator for a motor vehicle transmission design, that has several ratio steps for forming gears, whereby the gear actuator has a gear-shift shaft that is mounted so that it can rotate for the shifting of gears and that is mounted so that it can slide axially for the selection of gears and whereby the gear actuator also has a shift gate, whereby the shift gate also has a fixed mounted first shift gate part that is especially a shaft or an axle, as well as a second shift gate part that is mounted so that it can move axially and move in rotation or swivel, which is especially a disk or plate and is coupled with the gear-shift shaft and whereby the first shift gate part has several axially spaced recesses, into which the second shift gate part can be swiveled depending on its axial position.