External Snap Ring Housing for Stronger Shifting Brake Locking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shifting brake devices face limitations in strength due to the material constraints of the housing when a snap ring is arranged internally, which restricts the available space for locking the reaction plate.

Innovation Solution

The snap ring is positioned in a groove on the outside of the housing, allowing it to engage with the reaction plate and housing over a larger axial surface, enhancing the strength by using projections and recesses for secure locking, and potentially incorporating additional reaction plates for increased counter support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the snap ring is arranged on the inside of the housing, then the housing structure is compact, but the available material for locking the reaction plate is limited, reducing the strength of the arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of the arrangementVSAvoidavailable material area for snap ring arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The snap ring is inverted from the conventional internal arrangement to an external arrangement on the housing. This inversion allows the snap ring to utilize the outer peripheral surface of the housing, providing abundant material area for locking the reaction plate without being constrained by internal space limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The snap ring arrangement transitions from a two-dimensional internal surface to a three-dimensional external cylindrical surface of the housing. This dimensional change provides additional locking circumference and material area, enabling stronger engagement between the snap ring, reaction plate, and housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the snap ring is arranged on the outside of the housing, then the contact surface area between the snap ring and housing is increased, but the device complexity increases due to additional groove and projection structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact surface area between snap ring and housingVSAvoidstructural complexity of groove and projection arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction plate is segmented with multiple projections distributed around its periphery, which engage with corresponding recesses in the housing. This segmentation distributes the locking function across multiple contact points, increasing the overall contact surface area while maintaining a relatively simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The projections of the reaction plate are nested within the recesses of the housing, creating a interlocking arrangement. The snap ring then engages both the reaction plate projections and the housing outer surface, forming a nested locking structure that increases contact area without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3869050B1An arrangement for a shifting brake device
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RES & DEV CO LTD
  • EP3869050B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3869050B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3869050B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement (30) for a shifting brake device (1). The arrangement comprises a housing (3), a reaction plate (10) and a snap ring (11). The housing and the reaction plate are mechanically connected to each other and the snap ring is arranged in a groove (12) of the housing (3) for locking the reaction plate (10) to the housing (3) such that displacement of the reaction plate relative to the housing in an axial direction (5) is prevented. The groove (12) is arranged on an outside surface (13) of the housing (3).