Counterphase Planet Gears for Axle Vibration Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current axle assemblies with planetary gear sets face challenges in efficiently transmitting torque while minimizing radial and rotational vibration excitations, leading to torque ripples and reduced stability.
Innovation Solution
The axle assembly incorporates a planetary gear set with a sun gear, planetary ring gear, and two sets of planet gears, where the second set of planet gears is positioned in counterphase with the first set, ensuring they do not mesh, and are supported by a planet gear carrier with flanges and pins, enhancing torque transmission and vibration cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a planetary gear set with single set of planet gears is used, then the structure is simple, but radial and rotational vibration excitations occur causing torque ripples
Solution Approach 1:
The planet gear set is segmented into two distinct sets of planet gears (first set and second set) positioned in counterphase. Each set independently meshes with the sun gear and planetary ring gear, allowing the vibration excitations from one set to cancel those from the other set, thereby reducing overall radial and rotational vibrations while maintaining structural efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The second set of planet gears acts as a counterbalance to the first set by being positioned in counterphase. The gravitational and inertial forces generated by the two sets oppose each other, creating a counterweight effect that cancels out vibration excitations and torque ripples, improving rotational stability
2Reliability
If two sets of planet gears are used in counterphase, then vibration excitations are canceled and stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two sets of planet gears are merged into a single integrated planetary gear set structure that shares common elements (sun gear, planetary ring gear, planet gear carrier). This combining approach achieves vibration cancellation through counterphase positioning while avoiding the complexity of completely separate gear systems, as both sets operate within the same structural framework
Solution Approach 2:
The planet gear carrier is designed to universally support both the first and second sets of planet gears, allowing a single component to perform multiple functions. The carrier structure accommodates gears from both sets simultaneously, reducing the total number of separate support structures needed and simplifying the overall assembly
3Power
If planet gears mesh with each other, then torque transmission is enhanced, but radial loads and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The meshing interaction between the two sets of planet gears is extracted/removed from the system. The first and second sets are positioned in counterphase and spaced apart so they do not mesh with each other, eliminating the harmful radial loads and vibrations that would result from inter-set meshing while each set continues to independently transmit torque through the sun gear and planetary ring gear
Data Source
AI summary
An axle assembly having a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set may include first and second sets of planet gears that may mesh with a sun gear and a planetary ring gear. The second set of planet gears may be spaced apart from the first set of planet gears and may be positioned in counterphase with the first set of planet gears.