Vehicular Power Transmission Casing Breather Plug Removal Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular power transmitting device casings face challenges in preventing the removal of breather plugs without requiring additional mechanisms or increased component counts, as existing solutions often rely on threaded portions or flanges that can be cumbersome or require large wall thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
A casing structure with a breather plug that includes an attaching portion fitted into a communication hole, a body portion with a projecting section and connecting section, and a stationary removal preventive member, such as a bracket, which abuts the breather plug to prevent removal without the need for an exclusive mechanism between the plug and the communication hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a threaded portion is provided in the casing to screw the breather plug, then the breather plug is securely fixed to the casing, but the wall thickness must be relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing mechanism is segmented into two parts: a threaded portion formed on the breather plug itself and a stationary removal preventive member (bracket) fixed to the casing. This segmentation allows the threaded portion to have sufficient threads for secure fixing without requiring large wall thickness in the casing, as the threads are formed on the plug rather than the casing wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded portion is nested on the breather plug body, allowing the plug to be screwed into the communication hole without requiring the casing wall to accommodate deep threads. The stationary removal preventive member (bracket) is then nested onto the threaded portion to provide additional securing without increasing wall thickness requirements.
2Reliability
If a removal preventive flange is integrally formed on the breather plug, then the breather plug cannot be removed from the casing, but the length of the breather plug becomes relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The removal prevention function is segmented from the breather plug body and implemented by a separate stationary removal preventive member (bracket) that is fixed to the casing. This bracket engages with the threaded portion of the breather plug to prevent removal, allowing the breather plug itself to maintain a compact length without an integrally formed flange extending its length.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of preventing removal by extending the breather plug lengthwise with an integrally formed flange, the solution moves to another dimension by using a separate bracket member that engages with the plug from the side, providing removal prevention without increasing the plug's primary length dimension.
3Reliability
If an exclusive mechanism is provided between the breather plug and communication hole to prevent removal, then the breather plug is securely fixed, but the number of components and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stationary removal preventive member (bracket) is designed as a multi-functional component that serves both as a structural element of the casing and as a removal prevention mechanism. By integrating the removal prevention function into an existing casing component rather than adding a separate dedicated mechanism, the number of components is minimized while maintaining secure fixing of the breather plug.
Solution Approach 2:
The removal prevention function is merged with the existing casing structure through the stationary removal preventive member (bracket). This bracket combines the roles of structural support and removal prevention, eliminating the need for separate exclusive mechanisms between the breather plug and communication hole, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A casing structure of a vehicular power transmitting device, includes: a casing; a breather plug; and a stationary removal preventive member, wherein the breather plug includes an attaching portion and a body portion, the body portion of the breather plug including an abutting section which abuts on the removal preventive member when the attaching portion of the breather plug is moved relative to the communication hole in a direction toward the outside atmosphere. The removal preventive member is positioned relative to the communication hole such that the attaching portion of the breather plug is located to keep the breather plug in communication with the communication hole when the abutting section of the body portion comes into abutting contact with the removal preventive member.