Elastic Spline Coupler Geometry for Backlash and Impact Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power transmission systems in vehicles face issues with backlash, leading to power loss, noise, and potential damage due to friction and collision between rotating bodies and couplers, especially during sudden stops, which can result in lethal damages and low-temperature fractures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle power transmission apparatus featuring a coupler with varying groove widths at its ends, configured for tension coupling with the rotating body and compressive coupling with the motor spline unit, made of an elastic material to absorb impact and prevent tension-induced fractures, ensuring durability and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the coupler is made of rigid material, then the power transmission efficiency is improved, but the impact force during sudden stops increases causing lethal damages
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler material parameter is changed from rigid to elastic, allowing the material to deform elastically under impact loads. This transforms the rigid power transmission path into a flexible one that can absorb impact energy through elastic deformation, reducing the harmful impact force during sudden stops while maintaining adequate power transmission efficiency through the elastic coupling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the coupler is made of elastic material, then the impact force is absorbed, but the coupler may undergo tension-induced fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling method is inverted from traditional rigid or tensile coupling to compression-only coupling. The coupler is designed to transmit compressive forces from the motor spline to the rotating body while preventing tensile loads. This inversion ensures that the elastic material never experiences tension, eliminating the risk of tension-induced fractures while maintaining impact absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler geometry and constraint design preemptively prevent tensile forces from developing in the elastic material. By configuring the coupling interface and constraint mechanisms to only allow compression transmission, the design anticipates and counteracts the potential harmful effect of tension before it can occur, protecting the elastic coupler from fracture.
3Loss of energy
If backlash is reduced, then the power transmission efficacy is improved, but the noise and vibration severity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler introduces dynamic compliance into the power transmission system through its elastic deformation capability. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt to load variations and maintain optimal gear engagement without excessive backlash, reducing power loss while simultaneously dampening vibrations and noise through the elastic material's inherent damping properties.
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 apparatus effectively reduces the impact force during sudden stops, mitigates noise, and prevents low-temperature fractures by maintaining the coupler in a non-tensioned state, enhancing the durability and performance of the power transmission system.
Implementation Method 1
configured for tension coupling with the rotating body and compressive coupling with the motor spline unit, made of an elastic material to absorb impact
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for power transmission of a vehicle, including a motor having a motor spline unit extending therefrom, and configured to generate power, a rotating body configured to receive the power and rotate, and a coupler having a toothed structure including grooves and having an exterior to be coupled to the motor spline unit and an interior to be coupled to the rotating body, wherein a width of the grooves formed at one end of the interior is larger than a width of the grooves formed at an opposite end of the interior, a width of the grooves formed at one end of the exterior is smaller than a width of the grooves formed at an opposite end of the exterior, and the coupler is coupled in a tension coupling with the rotating body and the motor.