Compact Vehicle Actuator With Common Ring Gear Planetary System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control actuators face challenges in achieving compact designs while generating large actuating forces or moments and simplifying assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The actuator design incorporates a planetary gear system coupled with an electric motor drive shaft and output shaft, featuring multiple gear stages with a common ring gear for increased power density and compactness, using identical parts to reduce production costs and integrate gear stages within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a planetary gear system with multiple gear stages is used, then actuating forces and power density are increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple gear stages share a common ring gear, merging what would otherwise be separate gear trains into a single integrated structure. This reduces the number of individual components and simplifies assembly while maintaining the force multiplication benefits of multiple stages
Solution Approach 2:
The common ring gear serves multiple functions: it acts as the ring gear for multiple planet gear sets simultaneously, and forms an integral part of the housing structure. This multi-functionality reduces overall component count and structural complexity
2Volume of moving object
If gear stages are integrated within the housing with a common ring gear, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ring gear is merged with the housing as an integral structure, eliminating the need for separate ring gear components and reducing assembly steps. This integration achieves compactness while distributing precision requirements across the housing manufacturing process
3Ease of manufacture
If identical parts are used for gear stages, then production costs are reduced, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
While using identical planet gears and carriers across stages, the sun gears have different numbers of teeth to provide different gear ratios for each stage. This parameter variation maintains adaptability for different actuation requirements while preserving the cost benefits of standardized components
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 configuration enables high drive power with a compact design, enhancing actuating forces and simplifying assembly, thereby addressing the need for efficient and cost-effective actuator systems in vehicle control applications.
Implementation Method 1
The drive shaft (18) is drive-connected to an output shaft (10) via a planetary gear (19). The planetary gear (19) has at least one gear stage (20, 21).
Implementation Method 2
An actuator (2) has a housing (8) in which an electric motor (9) is arranged.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuator, especially for an adjusting element of a vehicle. Said actuator comprises an electric motor having a rotationally driven input shaft, and a planetary gearbox for connecting the input shaft to an output shaft of the actuator.