Transmission Spring Pack with Tabbed Retainer for Space Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern motor vehicle transmissions require space-efficient solutions for spring packs that facilitate gear ratio shifts, as existing designs occupy significant space within the transmission.
Innovation Solution
A spring pack design featuring two rotatable pistons with retainer plates and subsets of biasing members that allow independent operation and different return positions, reducing space requirements by using a single set of springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate spring packs are used for dual return pistons, then each piston can be independently actuated with dedicated biasing members, but the space occupied within the transmission increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate spring packs into a single integrated spring pack that serves both return pistons. The single spring pack includes a housing with a plurality of springs arranged to provide biasing forces to both first and second return pistons simultaneously, reducing the overall space required while maintaining independent actuation capability for each piston
Solution Approach 2:
The single spring pack housing is designed to perform multiple functions: it contains and organizes multiple springs, provides structural support for both return pistons, and enables independent biasing forces for each piston through strategic spring placement and configuration within the unified housing structure
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 design achieves space savings, cost-effectiveness, and weight reduction while maintaining performance equivalent to dual spring packs, enabling efficient gear ratio shifting within the transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing force in the respective subset of biasing members urges each piston away from the tabbed retainer plate such that each piston can return to its off position
Data Source
AI summary
A spring pack for a transmission includes first rotatable piston and a second rotatable piston. The first rotatable piston includes a first retainer plate, and the second rotatable piston includes a second retainer plate. The spring pack further includes a tabbed retainer plate that is stationary with respect to the first piston and the second piston and also includes a set of biasing members with a first subset of biasing members and a second subset of biasing members. The first subset of biasing members is disposed between the first retainer plate and the tabbed retainer plate, and the second subset of biasing members is disposed between the second retainer plate and the tabbed retainer plate. As the first and second pistons are activated, they stroke independently of each other as each retainer plate compresses its respective subset of biasing members against the tabbed retainer plate.