Vehicle Transmission Assembly With Bidirectional Oil Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle transmission systems face reliability issues due to air suction and cavitation erosion caused by tilting vehicle bodies, which disrupt the lubrication and cooling processes.

Innovation Solution

A transmission assembly with a bidirectional oil suction system, featuring a pump device that selectively sucks lubricating oil from a side with a sufficient liquid level, and a valve system that adjusts fluid passages based on vehicle tilt and acceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-sided suction pump device is used to pump lubricating oil, then the pump structure is simple, but when the vehicle tilts during operation, the liquid level at the suction side falls, causing air suction and cavitation erosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump structureVSAvoidcooling and lubrication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction side of the pump device is divided into two independent suction ports: a first suction port connected to the gearbox and a second suction port connected to the electric motor. This segmentation allows the pump to independently draw lubricating oil from both sides, ensuring that if one side's liquid level drops due to vehicle tilting, the other side can still provide sufficient oil supply to prevent cavitation and maintain reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the pump device sucks lubricating oil from one side only, then the pump device is simple to control, but the liquid level at the suction port may fall during vehicle tilting, causing air suction and cavitation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump controlVSAvoidair suction and cavitation erosion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pump device is designed with a bidirectional suction capability that can dynamically adapt to vehicle operating conditions. The control system monitors the vehicle's tilt state and acceleration, and automatically switches between single-sided and dual-sided suction modes. During normal operation, single-sided suction is used for simplicity; when tilting is detected, the system activates dual-sided suction to maintain sufficient liquid level at the suction ports and prevent cavitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a bidirectional suction system is implemented to prevent air suction during tilting, then the cooling and lubrication reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling and lubrication reliabilityVSAvoidpump system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various operating conditions. It can operate in single-sided suction mode during normal conditions and switch to dual-sided suction mode when vehicle tilting is detected. The control system integrates multiple functions: monitoring vehicle state, determining tilt conditions, selecting suction modes, and regulating oil flow distribution. This universal design ensures reliable cooling and lubrication across all operating scenarios without requiring completely separate pump systems for different conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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 solution ensures reliable and stable operation of the motive power system by preventing air suction and cavitation erosion, even during vehicle tilting, thereby extending the service life of the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

air suction may even occur, causing cavitation erosion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger; and a cooling and lubricating system arranged in the assembly housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4542087A1Transmission assembly for vehicles, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 VALEO ELECTRIFICATION
  • EP4542087A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4542087A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4542087A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a transmission assembly for a vehicle. The transmission assembly comprises: an assembly housing (1); a gearbox (2) and a motor housing (3), which are arranged in the assembly housing (1) in an integrated manner; a heat exchanger (4); and a lubricating system arranged in the assembly housing (1). The lubricating system comprises: a first fluid passage (S1) between the gearbox (2) and the heat exchanger (4), a second fluid passage (S2) between the motor housing (3) and the heat exchanger (4), and a pump device (P); a lubricating medium is selectively connectable to the first fluid passage (S1) or the second fluid passage (S2) with the aid of the pump device (P), so as to flow into either the gearbox (2) or the motor housing (3), and be delivered to the heat exchanger (4). The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising the above-mentioned transmission assembly.