Vehicle Drive Device Vibration Isolation via Frictional Supporting Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle drive devices experience significant gear noise due to direct transmission of vibration from the reduction mechanism to the case, leading to increased noise levels.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle drive device incorporating a supporting member that unrotatably supports the ring gears of the planetary gear mechanism, attenuating vibration through frictional contact with the case, thereby reducing the transmission of vibration and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If ring gears are directly supported by the case, then device complexity is reduced, but gear noise increases due to direct vibration transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidgear noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A supporting member is introduced as an intermediary component between the ring gears and the case. This supporting member absorbs and attenuates vibration through frictional contact, preventing direct transmission of gear meshing vibrations to the case, thereby reducing gear noise while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If ring gears are directly supported by the case, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but vibration transmission to the case increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting member serves as a vibration-absorbing intermediary that contacts the ring gears through friction. This simple friction-based mechanism effectively reduces vibration transmission to the case without requiring complex active control systems, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving vibration isolation performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively reduces vibration and noise transmission from the reduction device to the case, resulting in a significant decrease in gear noise levels.

Implementation Method 1

attenuating vibration through frictional contact with the case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3620684B1Vehicle drive device
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 AISIN CORP
  • EP3620684B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620684B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3620684B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle drive device (100) includes a rotating electrical machine (2), a differential gear device (4), a reduction device (3), and a case (1). The differential gear device (4) and the reduction device (3) are disposed coaxially with the rotating electrical machine (2). The reduction device (3) is disposed between the rotating electrical machine (2) and the differential gear device (4) in an axial direction (L). A supporting member (9) disposed inside the case (1) is supported by the case (1). The case (1) and the supporting member (9) are in plane contact with each other. A contact surface (11sa, 91as) between the case (1) and the supporting member (9) lies in a direction (R) orthogonal to the axial direction (L).