Power Transmission Damper with Switchable Spring Properties
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power transmitting apparatuses face challenges in maintaining efficient torque damping and improving fuel consumption across a wide engine speed range, particularly when switching to a system without a torque converter, as they often fail to adequately damp torque variations at lower engine speeds during deceleration.
Innovation Solution
A power transmitting apparatus featuring a damper mechanism with two dampers of varying spring properties, a spring property switching device, and a controller to dynamically adjust the spring properties based on vehicle running states, allowing for seamless switching between low and high spring rate states to manage torque variations and maintain efficient power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single spring property damper is used in the second power transmitting system, then the structure is simple, but torque variation cannot be sufficiently damped at low engine speeds during deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The damper mechanism is segmented into a first damper and a second damper with different spring properties. The first damper has a softer spring property for low engine speed conditions, while the second damper has a stiffer spring property for high engine speed conditions. This segmentation allows each damper to specialize in damping torque variations within its optimal speed range, resolving the contradiction between damping performance and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper mechanism dynamically switches between the first and second dampers based on engine speed conditions. A switching device activates the appropriate damper according to real-time engine speed feedback, enabling the system to adapt its damping characteristics. This dynamic adaptation ensures sufficient torque damping across the entire engine speed range while maintaining structural efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the second power transmitting system is held over a wider engine speed range, then fuel consumption is improved, but torque variation damping becomes insufficient at lower speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the spring property parameter of the damper mechanism based on engine speed. By switching between the first damper (softer spring) and the second damper (stiffer spring), the system optimizes damping performance for different operating conditions. This parameter change enables the second power transmitting system to operate over a wider engine speed range for improved fuel consumption while maintaining adequate torque damping at all speeds.
3Power
If a torque converter is used in the first power transmitting system, then starting performance is improved, but power transmitting efficiency deteriorates due to slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch means dynamically switches between the first power transmitting system (with torque converter) and the second power transmitting system (without torque converter) based on vehicle operating conditions. During starting or low-speed conditions, the system engages the torque converter for improved starting performance. During steady-state running, the system disengages the torque converter and engages the direct transmission path for improved power transmitting efficiency, eliminating energy loss from torque converter slippage.
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 solution effectively dampens torque variations and improves fuel efficiency by allowing the power transmitting system to operate over a wider engine speed range, reducing resonance and vibration, and preventing phenomena like 'stayed sound' and 'jerk' during acceleration and deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
a damper mechanism including at least first and second dampers having spring properties for damping torque variations of an engine
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a power transmitting apparatus which can sufficiently damp the torque variation and also can further improve the fuel consumption. For achieving the object of the present disclosure above, there is provided a power transmitting apparatus of a vehicle comprising a damper mechanism including dampers having spring properties for damping torque variations of an engine and being able to arbitrarily and selectively transmit or cut off a driving power of an engine to wheels characterized in that the power transmitting apparatus further comprises a spring property switching device for arbitrarily switching spring properties of the damper mechanism; and a spring property controller for actuating the spring property switching device to switch the spring properties according to the running state of the vehicle.