Internal combustion engine propulsion method and corresponding transmission design
AssigneeTuskegee University
InventorShaoWei Gong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A case-emphasized propulsion method improves vehicle fuel efficiency. The ratio of the most-used speed to the most-desired speed of an IC engine is employed to control the engine to always run at its optimal working state with an efficient single-stage gear transmission. The propulsion method used with different brands of IC engines demonstrates a reduction in fuel consumption between 5 and 39%. An n-ratio automatic single-stage gear transmission implements the propulsion method. The transmission design executes the proposed propulsion method as well a continuous transmission, but it can also increase the propulsion efficiency about 8 to 18% when applied to replace traditional automatic transmissions or continuously variable transmissions in vehicle drivetrains.
Claims16
An n-ratio automatic single-stage gear transmission comprising:
- a driving shaft;
- a transmission output shaft;
- and
- a plurality of gear pairs,
- wherein a first gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the driving shaft using a first mating controller,
- wherein a second gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the transmission output shaft using a second mating controller,
- wherein the gear pairs each have a distinct gear ratio, and
- wherein the first and second mating controllers comprise an engaging ball for effectuating a separated state and a fixed state
- wherein the first mating controller comprises a driven member coupled to the first gear, a driver coupled to the driving shaft, and an actuator for selectively positioning the engaging ball in the separated state and in the fixed state;
- wherein the actuator comprises a flat upper surface for interacting with the engaging ball.
An n-ratio automatic single-stage gear transmission comprising:
- a driving shaft;
- a transmission output shaft;
- and
- a plurality of gear pairs,
- wherein a first gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the driving shaft using a first mating controller,
- wherein a second gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the transmission output shaft using a second mating controller,
- wherein the gear pairs each have a distinct gear ratio, and
- wherein the first and second mating controllers comprise an engaging ball for effectuating a separated state and a fixed state;
- and
- further comprising a transmission controller for controlling the mating controllers;
- wherein only one gear pair is coupled to the driving shaft and the transmission output shaft at a time;
- and
- wherein each gear ratio corresponds to a most-used working state for an internal combustion engine.
An n-ratio automatic single-stage gear transmission comprising:
- a driving shaft;
- a transmission output shaft;
- and
- a plurality of gear pairs,
- wherein a first gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the driving shaft using a first mating controller,
- wherein a second gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the transmission output shaft using a second mating controller,
- wherein the gear pairs each have a distinct gear ratio, and
- wherein the first and second mating controllers comprise an engaging ball for effectuating a separated state and a fixed state
- wherein the second mating controller comprises a driven member coupled to the second gear, a driver coupled to the transmission output shaft, and an actuator for selectively positioning the engaging ball in the separated state and in the fixed state
- wherein the actuator comprises a flat upper surface for interacting with the engaging ball.
A method of improving the efficiency of an IC engine, the method comprising:
- providing a driving shaft coupled to an engine output shaft of an IC engine;
- providing a transmission output shaft;
- and
- providing a plurality of gear pairs,
- wherein a first gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the driving shaft using a first mating controller,
- wherein a second gear in the gear pair is selectively coupled to the transmission output shaft using a second mating controller,
- wherein the gear pairs each have a distinct gear ratio, and
- wherein the first mating controller comprises a first engaging ball and the second mating controller comprises a second engaging ball for effectuating a separated state and a fixed state;
- wherein the first mating controller comprises a first driven member coupled to the first gear, a first driver coupled to the driving shaft, and a first actuator for selectively positioning the first engaging ball in the separated state and in the fixed state;
- wherein the first actuator comprises a first flat upper surface for interacting with the first engaging ball;
- wherein the second mating controller comprises a second driven member coupled to the second gear, a second driver coupled to the transmission output shaft, and a second actuator for selectively positioning the second engaging ball in the separated state and in the fixed state;
- wherein the second actuator comprises a second flat upper surface for interacting with the second engaging ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.