Gear Coupling Venting Structure for Lubricant Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear power transmission devices face limitations due to lubricant leakage, which affects their application range and contamination control, especially in environments requiring high contamination prevention.
Innovation Solution
A gear device design that includes a blocking member positioned between the gear mechanism and a communication passage to prevent lubricant leakage, featuring a casing with separate spaces for the gear mechanism and coupling, and a communication passage allowing pressure relief while minimizing lubricant flow to the exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a communication passage is provided to allow pressure equalization between the gear mechanism space and coupling space, then the reliability is improved by preventing pressure buildup, but the lubricant leakage worsens as the passage enables lubricant flow to the exterior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication passage as an intermediary structure that allows pressure equalization between the first space (gear mechanism) and second space (coupling) while controlling lubricant flow. The passage acts as a mediator that balances pressure without enabling significant lubricant leakage, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and harmful lubricant leakage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the gear mechanism is enclosed in a sealed casing to prevent lubricant leakage, then the contamination is reduced, but the pressure buildup worsens which can cause seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the internal space into two separate sealed compartments (first space for gear mechanism, second space for coupling) connected by a communication passage. This segmentation allows each space to maintain its own seal integrity while the passage provides pressure relief, preventing seal failure due to pressure buildup and reducing contamination leakage.
3Reliability
If the communication passage is enlarged to improve pressure equalization, then the reliability is improved, but the lubricant flow to the exterior increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage is designed with specific local characteristics (controlled dimensions, positioning, and geometry) that allow it to provide sufficient pressure relief while minimizing lubricant flow. The passage's local quality is optimized to balance pressure equalization functionality with lubricant retention, preventing excessive lubricant loss.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a gear device including a motor having a motor shaft, a gear mechanism, a coupling that couples the motor shaft and an input shaft of the gear mechanism with each other, a first space accommodating the gear mechanism and holding a lubricant, a communication passage allowing the first space and a second space for accommodating the coupling to communicate with each other, and a blocking member disposed between the gear mechanism and the communication passage.