Encapsulated Gear Train Structure for Noise and Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gear trains with combined structural support and encapsulation functions suffer from noise radiation and vibration issues due to their continuous skin design, limiting design freedoms and compromising on efficiency and noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
The gear train separates structural support and encapsulation functions, using a non-encasing support frame and a separate encasement to isolate vibrations and noise, allowing for a stiffer, lighter, and quieter design with a lubricant distribution system and optional air ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a continuous skin housing is used to encapsulate the entire transmission, then structural support is provided, but noise radiation increases due to large surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple separate encasement elements rather than a single continuous skin. These elements are arranged to encapsulate the transmission components while reducing the continuous surface area that radiates noise, thus segmenting the noise radiation path.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting structure is introduced as an intermediary between the transmission and the housing. This mounting structure decouples the transmission from the housing, preventing direct transmission of vibrations to the housing surface and reducing noise radiation.
2Device complexity
If a continuous skin housing performs both structural support and encapsulation, then design simplicity is maintained, but design freedoms are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing system is segmented into distinct functional components: the mounting structure for structural support and the encasement elements for encapsulation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and greater design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling decoupling of the transmission from the housing, and facilitating various encapsulation configurations. This multi-functionality increases design freedoms while maintaining structural integrity.
3Strength
If the housing is subjected to vibrations from gears, then structural support is maintained, but airborne vibration is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure acts as an intermediary that decouples the transmission from the housing. This decoupling prevents gear-induced vibrations from being directly transmitted to the housing surface, thereby reducing airborne vibration generation while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration transmission path is extracted from the housing structure by introducing a separate mounting structure. This separates the structural support function from the vibration transmission, allowing the housing to provide support without being the primary source of airborne vibration.
Data Source
AI summary
An encapsulated gear train gear train for a machine comprising a support frame, which is non-encasing, an input shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, an output shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, gears configured to operatively connect the input shaft with the output shaft, and an encasement configured to encapsulate the input shaft, the output shaft, the gears, and at least a portion of the support frame, wherein the support frame is configured to be mounted on a structure of the machine such that the support frame does not apply any loads onto the encasement.