Dry Multi-Plate Clutch Splash Guard for Debris Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid drive force transmission devices with dry multi-plate clutches face issues of water infiltration and inability to eject wear debris effectively due to the sealed nature of the clutch chamber, where water entry through holes for debris ejection can lead to contamination and debris retention.
Innovation Solution
A drive force transmission device with a dry clutch system that includes a cover member with air intake and venting ports, and a splash guard to prevent water infiltration while allowing air streams to eject wear debris, utilizing pressure differences to facilitate debris removal without impeding the ejection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a hole is provided in the cover member for wear debris ejection, then wear debris can be ejected from the closed space, but water can infiltrate into the closed space through the hole
Solution Approach 1:
A splash guard is introduced as an intermediary component between the air intake/venting ports and the closed clutch space. The splash guard selectively allows air to pass through while blocking water infiltration, thus mediating between the need for debris ejection and the need to prevent water contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed with different functional regions: air intake ports and air venting ports with specific orientations and protections. The splash guard provides localized protection to these ports, creating different quality zones - some areas are open for air flow while being protected from water, maintaining local functional differences to resolve the contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the closed space is completely sealed to prevent water infiltration, then water protection is improved, but wear debris cannot be ejected outside
Solution Approach 1:
The air intake port and air venting port serve as intermediary channels that allow controlled communication between the closed space and external environment. These ports enable wear debris ejection through air flow while the splash guard ensures water infiltration is prevented, thus maintaining both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of permeability selectively - the cover member and splash guard are designed to be permeable to air (allowing debris ejection) while being impermeable to water (preventing infiltration). This parameter differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing different substances to pass through differently.
3Productivity
If air intake and venting ports are provided for wear debris ejection, then debris removal is improved, but the risk of water infiltration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard acts as a protective intermediary over the air intake and venting ports. It maintains the productivity function by allowing air flow for debris ejection while improving reliability by blocking water infiltration paths, thus resolving the trade-off between debris removal efficiency and water protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is segmented into multiple functional components including air intake ports, air venting ports, and splash guard-protected zones. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - air flow for debris ejection and water blocking for protection - thereby achieving both high productivity and reliability simultaneously.
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
Prevents water infiltration into the clutch chamber while ensuring effective ejection of wear debris, maintaining the dry environment and operational efficiency of the clutch system.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure relationship engendered by the air pressure on the outer diameter side of the clutch being greater than the atmospheric pressure, which is in turn greater than the air pressure on the inner diameter side of the clutch generates an air stream
Implementation Method 2
an air stream that flows along a path going from the external air through the opening, the air intake port, a clutch inner diameter-side axial direction gap, a clutch radial direction gap, a clutch outer diameter side axial direction gap, the air venting port, the opening, and back to the external air
Data Source
AI summary
In a drive force transmission device, a dry multi-plate clutch is disposed in a closed space for connecting and disconnecting a transmission of drive force. The dry multi-plate clutch includes a drive plate, a driven plate, a frictional face, a front cover and a splash guard. The drive plate is splined to a clutch hub. The driven plate is splined to a clutch drum. The front cover has an air intake port for taking external air into the closed space, and an air venting port for ejecting an air stream from within the closed space to the external air. The splash guard covers the air intake port and the air venting port of the front cover. The splash guard has an opening for drawing in external air through the air intake port and venting an air stream through the air venting port.