Elastic Lubrication Insert for Drive Shaft Spline Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lubrication systems, particularly one-shot systems, are inadequate in supplying sufficient lubrication to the centerline of an accessory drive shaft and further down the drive shaft, failing to effectively cool and reduce friction in gearboxes.
Innovation Solution
An insert with an elastically deformable outer wall and a rigid inner wall, featuring a reservoir and nozzle, expands during rotation to store lubricant and contracts during cessation to discharge a targeted jet of fluid to the splines, ensuring adequate lubrication is supplied to the centerline and other splines along the drive shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a one-shot lubrication system is used, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but it cannot supply adequate lubrication to the centerline of the drive shaft and distant splines
Solution Approach 1:
The insert wall is designed with an elastically deformable outer portion that dynamically changes shape between expanded and unexpanded states during rotation cycles, enabling the system to store and discharge lubricant in response to rotational motion without complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the insert wall from expanded to unexpanded, which alters the internal volume and pressure parameters of the reservoir, thereby controlling lubricant discharge to distant splines without increasing overall system complexity
2Quantity of substance
If the insert wall is made rigid, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot expand to store adequate lubricant volume
Solution Approach 1:
The outer insert wall portion is constructed from an elastomeric material that can elastically deform to expand the reservoir volume during rotation, allowing adequate lubricant storage without requiring a complex mechanical expansion mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The insert wall combines a rigid inner portion for structural stability with an elastomeric outer portion for elastic deformation, creating a composite structure that achieves both structural integrity and expandable storage capacity
3Reliability
If lubrication is supplied during rotation, then the system operates continuously, but the lubricant cannot be effectively discharged to the splines
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the periodic rotation and cessation of the drive shaft to alternately expand and collapse the insert wall, creating periodic lubricant discharge cycles that ensure effective delivery to splines during each rotation cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares lubricant for discharge by storing it in the expanding reservoir during rotation, then releases it during cessation to counteract the lack of motion, ensuring continuous lubrication effectiveness despite intermittent operation
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 system significantly increases the amount of lubricant supplied to moving parts within the gearbox, effectively cooling and reducing friction, thereby optimizing the operation and lifespan of the gearbox components.
Implementation Method 1
the elastically deformable outer insert wall portion is configured to move between an expanded state, when the fluid is supplied to the reservoir, and an unexpanded state, when rotation of the insert and supply of fluid to the reservoir are ceased
Implementation Method 2
the nozzle is configured to discharge a jet of the fluid during cessation of rotation of the drive shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An insert for supplying a fluid within a drive shaft, the insert extending along an axis of rotation and comprising an insert wall having a rigid inner insert wall portion and an elastically deformable outer insert wall portion a reservoir defined by the insert wall for storing a fluid, a nozzle positioned at the first end of the insert wall, and wherein the elastically deformable outer insert wall portion is configured to move between an expanded state, when the fluid is supplied to the reservoir, and an unexpanded state, when rotation of the insert and supply of fluid to the reservoir are ceased, and movement of the elastically deformable outer insert wall portion to the unexpanded state forces the fluid to be discharged through the nozzle.