Dual Wheel Assembly With Tail Shaft Load Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility vehicles transmit most or all forces and torques between the vehicle chassis and the wheel set through the transmission, which can impact cost and manufacturability, and it is desirable to provide alternatives that modify, reduce, or eliminate these transmissions.
Innovation Solution
A dual wheel assembly with a tail shaft rotatably mounted within a bell housing, transmitting operational drive work and support loads transverse to the drive axis, while isolating the transmission from operational forces transverse to the drive line, allowing it to be partially isolated from transmitted forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the transmission transmits most or all forces and torques between the vehicle chassis and the wheel set, then the transmission structure is simplified and cost is reduced, but the transmission experiences increased stress, strain, and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission system is segmented into two distinct paths: one for drive torque transmission through the transmission, and another for support loads through the bell housing and output support structure. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific force types, reducing overall stress on the transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The bell housing serves as an intermediary structure that receives support loads from the chassis and transfers them to the output support, bypassing the transmission. This mediator component prevents support loads from being transmitted through the transmission, thereby protecting it from excessive wear.
2Device complexity
If the transmission transmits all operational forces, then the overall structure is simpler, but the transmission undergoes increased wear and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission pathway is divided into separate segments: drive forces through the transmission shaft and tail shaft, and support forces through the bell housing and output support. This segmentation ensures the transmission only handles drive forces, maintaining higher efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Support loads are extracted from the transmission pathway and routed through the bell housing and output support structure. By removing this burden from the transmission, the transmission can operate more efficiently with reduced wear and energy loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a dual wheel assembly for engagement with an associated vehicle having an associated chassis, the assembly having an output support and a transmission. The output support has a bell housing adapted to operationally mount to the associated chassis, and a tail shaft. The tail shaft is rotatably mounted within the bell housing, defines and is rotatable about a drive axis, and is adapted to transmit operational drive work by rotation about the drive axis. The tail shaft is further adapted to transmit and support an operational support load transverse to the drive axis. The transmission is operationally engaged to the output support and has a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft defines a transmission shaft axis, is operationally engaged with the tail shaft, and is adapted to transmit the operational drive work to the tail shaft.