Motor Vehicle Transmission Axial Length Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle transmissions face challenges in achieving a short axial installation length, which is crucial for transverse vehicle drive trains to optimize space between the drive machine and transmission.
Innovation Solution
A transmission design featuring an input shaft, output shaft, multiple planetary gear sets, and an electric machine axially parallel to the input shaft, with a spur gear drive or flexible traction mechanism connecting the electric machine to the input shaft, and an actuating element of the shift elements arranged radially within the gear drive or traction mechanism, reducing axial length by eliminating successive axial arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the actuating element and spur gear drive are arranged successively in the axial direction, then the transmission can be manufactured with standard design practices, but the axial installation length becomes too long for transverse vehicle drive trains
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is arranged radially within the spur gear drive element rather than axially beside it. This dimensional reorganization moves components from a one-dimensional axial arrangement to a two-dimensional radial configuration, dramatically reducing the axial installation length while maintaining all necessary functional relationships between components
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element is nested within the radial space of the spur gear drive element. This nesting arrangement allows the actuating element to occupy the same axial space as the gear drive, effectively utilizing otherwise wasted radial space and minimizing the overall axial footprint of the transmission assembly
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 significantly reduces the axial installation length of the transmission, enabling a more compact and efficient drive train configuration while allowing for various gear steps and drive modes, including electric, internal combustion, and hybrid operation.
Implementation Method 1
The electric machine is permanently operatively connected to the input shaft by a spur gear drive
Implementation Method 2
Examples of flexible traction drive mechanisms are chains, V-belts, or even toothed belts
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission for a motor vehicle having an input shaft, an output shaft, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of shift elements, and an electric machine arranged axially parallel to the input shaft and operatively connected to the input shaft with a constant transmission ratio via a spur gear drive or a flexible traction drive mechanism. Various gear steps are formable between the input shaft and the output shaft through the planetary gear sets by selectively engaging shift elements of the plurality of shift elements. An actuating element of one of the plurality of shift elements is arranged, at least partially, radially within an element of the spur gear drive or the flexible traction drive mechanism arranged coaxially to the input shaft, and together with the spur gear drive or the flexible traction drive mechanism in a plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the input shaft.