Gear Pair Torque Support Asymmetry for Lifting Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear pairs for lifting vessels face issues with torque imbalance, high bearing loads, and spatial constraints due to vertically arranged torque supports, leading to instability and increased costs, particularly when dealing with uneven torque loads and compensatory movements.
Innovation Solution
A gear pair design featuring two planetary gear units with pincer-like torque supports that surround each other's transmission housing, providing symmetric support and minimizing clearance between gear units, allowing for closer vertical stacking and reducing reaction forces on drive pinion shafts, thus stabilizing the system and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If vertically arranged torque supports are used, then structural support is provided, but bearing loads increase and spatial constraints are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric torque support arrangement where the supports are positioned at different heights and angles rather than symmetric vertical arrangement. This asymmetry allows the torque supports to counterbalance each other's loads, reducing the bearing loads on individual components while maintaining overall structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque supports are designed to act as counterweights to each other, with one support positioned to compensate for the load of the other. This counterbalancing arrangement reduces the net bearing loads on the gear unit while maintaining the necessary structural support for the transmission housing.
2Strength
If vertically arranged torque supports are used, then structural support is provided, but spatial requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The torque supports are designed to nest within the available space around the transmission housing, with one support positioned inside the clearance area of the other. This nested arrangement provides the necessary structural support while minimizing the overall spatial footprint of the gear unit assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a purely vertical arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration where torque supports are positioned at different heights and angular orientations. This dimensional change allows the supports to interlock and counterbalance each other within a compact volume, reducing the overall spatial requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If torque supports are positioned symmetrically on the vertical plane, then stability is improved, but bearing loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in the torque support positioning, placing them at different heights and angles relative to the vertical plane. This asymmetric arrangement maintains system stability through mutual counterbalancing while reducing the bearing loads compared to a symmetric vertical arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of the torque supports from symmetric vertical alignment to asymmetric three-dimensional positioning. By adjusting the height, angle, and radial position parameters, the system achieves both stability through counterbalancing and reduced bearing loads.
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 design achieves a stable and cost-effective gear pair with minimized bearing loads and reduced spatial requirements, ensuring synchronous operation and preventing damage from torque imbalances, while allowing for efficient vertical stacking and reduced horizontal forces on the lifting frame.
Implementation Method 1
Each gear unit has a planetary stage mounted in a transmission housing
Implementation Method 2
The torque support of each gear unit is supported on the transmission housing of the other respective gear unit symmetrically with respect to a straight line connecting the output shafts at two support points
Data Source
AI summary
A gear pair for a lifting vessel includes two gear units driving in opposite directions of rotation and configured for engagement in two tooth racks on a jack-up leg, respectively. Each gear unit includes a drive shaft for connection to a drive, an output shaft for connection to a drive pinion, a transmission housing, a planetary stage mounted in the transmission housing, and a torque support configured to enable support of the gear unit on the other gear unit. The torque support surrounds the transmission housing of the other gear unit in a pincer-like manner and contacts the transmission housing symmetrically with respect to a straight line connecting the output shafts of the gear units at two support points which in relation to a vertical plane extending through the output shaft of the other gear unit are located offset towards the gear unit having the torque support.