Drilling Feeding Unit Planetary Gear Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling devices with irreversible gear transmissions are complex, costly, and inefficient, limiting the speed and precision of the feeding process, especially in large or inaccessible drilling operations.

Innovation Solution

A drilling device with a feeding unit featuring an electric feeding motor connected via a planetary gear, allowing for manual control of rotation direction, speed, and force, and utilizing a Gleason gear for higher efficiency, which can be remotely controlled via wireless communication, eliminating the need for a clutch and enabling precise control and quicker movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an irreversible gear transmission with clutch is used, then the feeding motor can be disengaged from the feeding mechanism, but the system becomes complicated, costly, and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to disengage feeding motorVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the clutch component entirely from the system. The feeding motor is permanently coupled to the gear transmission through a planetary gear set, eliminating the need for engagement/disengagement mechanisms while maintaining the ability to manually override the system by turning the rack gear directly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack gear serves dual functions: it can be rotated by the feeding motor through the planetary gear transmission for automated feeding, or it can be manually rotated by the operator for manual positioning. This multi-functionality replaces the need for a clutch mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a worm gear transmission is used, then the feeding motor can be disengaged, but the transmission efficiency is low and feeding speed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to disengage feeding motorVSAvoidfeeding speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the worm gear transmission with a planetary gear set. Planetary gears provide higher mechanical efficiency and can handle higher speeds compared to worm gears, while still providing the necessary gear reduction and torque multiplication for the feeding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the gear transmission parameters by using a planetary gear set with specific tooth configurations that allow for higher efficiency and speed. The gear ratio and mechanical efficiency are optimized to enable faster feeding speeds while maintaining adequate torque.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If a planetary gear with angle gear is used, then the gear can be turned by hand and efficiency is higher, but the design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower lossVSAvoidgear design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The angle gear (bevel gear) acts as an intermediary element that transfers motion between the horizontal axis of the rack gear and the vertical axis of the planetary gear set. This allows the manually rotatable rack gear to drive the planetary gears, which then drive the feeding motor or feeding mechanism, achieving high efficiency while maintaining manual operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If remote wireless control is implemented, then the operator can control the drilling device in hazardous or inaccessible areas, but the control system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote operation capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct mechanical or wired control with wireless electronic control. A remote control device communicates with the drilling machine's control system via wireless signals, allowing the operator to control feeding speed, direction, and drilling parameters from a safe distance without complex wiring or mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution simplifies the design, reduces power losses, and allows for precise control of the feeding process, enabling faster and more efficient movement of the feeding housing, even in hazardous or inaccessible environments, while maintaining compact size and versatility.

Implementation Method 1

a gear (404) connected to the electric feeding motor (402) via a planetary gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a Gleason gear for higher efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGleason gear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP2569120B1A drilling device with a controller for the feeding unit.
Publication Date: 2015.01.21 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP2569120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2569120B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2569120B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods and systems for automatically feeding a feeding housing (206) of a drilling device (200). The drilling device (200) includes a drill stand (202), a drilling machine (204) and a feeding housing (206). Further, the drilling machine (204), which is suspended by the feeding housing (206), includes a drill with a drilling motor for performing a drilling operation through a drilling object. The feeding unit (208) includes an electric feeding motor for feeding the feeding housing (206) along the stand (202). Further, the feeding unit (208) also includes a controller for manually influencing the feeding motor's direction of rotation, speed and feeding force.