Gear Case Assembly Actuator Translation Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity in manufacturing marine outboard engines with different midsection lengths requires a versatile gear case assembly that can be easily assembled and disassembled, as existing solutions involve numerous interconnected components in tightly confined spaces, complicating the process.
Innovation Solution
A gear case assembly for marine outboard engines featuring a driveshaft, propeller shaft, transmission with forward and reverse gears, and an electric transmission actuator assembly, where a gap between the actuator assembly and the chamber wall allows perpendicular translation, enabling easy engagement and disengagement of the actuator end with the shift rod, and an actuator cap secures the assembly for simplified installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gear case assembly with multiple interconnected components is used to accommodate different midsection lengths, then the adaptability of the gear case is improved, but the complexity of assembling and disassembling the components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gear case assembly is divided into separable components including the actuator assembly, transmission components, and gear case housing. The actuator assembly can be independently removed from the gear case through the opening, allowing simplified assembly and disassembly while maintaining adaptability to different midsection lengths.
2Volume of moving object
If the actuator assembly is tightly fitted within the actuator chamber to save space, then the compactness is improved, but the ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator assembly is designed with alignment features and a translation path that guides it into the correct position within the actuator chamber before final engagement. This preliminary positioning action facilitates easy assembly while maintaining compact space utilization, as the assembly can be easily inserted through the opening and translated into place without complex alignment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The gear case assembly has a gear case, a driveshaft and a propeller shaft mounted at an angle to the driveshaft, each at least partly disposed within the gear case, a transmission having forward and reverse gears and a shift rod, and an electric transmission actuator assembly having an actuation axis and an actuator end engaging the shift rod. The transmission is operatively connected the propeller shaft and the driveshaft selectively drives the propeller shaft via the transmission. An actuator chamber houses at least part of the actuator assembly. There is a gap between the actuator assembly and an actuator chamber wall in a direction perpendicular to the actuation axis. The gap is sized and shaped to permit a translation of the actuator assembly away from the shift rod for disengagement from the shift rod. A gear case, a marine outboard engine and a method of assembly is also disclosed.