Gear Phase Alignment Using Positioning Bolt

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for aligning the phase of gear components in internal combustion engines, such as the timing gear, often require a special tool, leading to complex and costly procedures, especially during replacement processes where access to timing marks is limited.

Innovation Solution

A method for attaching a gear driving part to a gear case using a general-purpose bolt that aligns the phase without the need for a special tool, utilizing a positioning bolt that fits into specific holes to ensure accurate alignment and meshing of gears, allowing for easy and cost-effective attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a special tool is used to align the phase of gear components, then accurate phase alignment is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase alignment accuracyVSAvoidspecial tool requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning bolt is introduced as an intermediary tool to align the phase of gear components. The positioning bolt fits into a positioning hole in the first gear and a positioning hole in the gear case, serving as a simple mediator to achieve accurate phase alignment without requiring complex special tools. This resolves the contradiction by providing a simple, low-cost intermediary that enables precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning bolt is designed as a simple, inexpensive, and temporary component used only during the assembly process. After the gears are properly aligned and permanently fixed with regular bolts, the positioning bolt is removed. This disposable approach eliminates the need for expensive, complex special tools while achieving the required phase alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If a special tool is used for phase alignment during component replacement, then accurate phase alignment is achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to troublesome work procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase alignment accuracyVSAvoidwork procedure simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning bolt serves as a simple intermediary that simplifies the operation of phase alignment during component replacement. By fitting the positioning bolt into the positioning holes, workers can easily align the first gear with the gear case without dealing with complex special tools or difficult procedures. This makes the replacement process more straightforward and easier to perform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning holes in the first gear and gear case are designed to automatically guide the positioning bolt into the correct position, enabling self-aligning functionality. This self-service feature eliminates the need for workers to perform complex alignment operations manually, significantly simplifying the work procedure and improving ease of operation during component replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If a special tool is used for phase alignment, then accurate phase alignment is achieved, but the cost increases due to the special tool requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase alignment accuracyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning bolt is designed as a low-cost, temporary component that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use. This replaces expensive, complex special tools with a simple, inexpensive fastener, dramatically reducing the cost of phase alignment operations while maintaining accurate alignment through the positioning hole mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning bolt uses the same thread standard and basic structure as regular bolts, making it a universal component that can be manufactured using existing bolt production capabilities. This multi-functionality approach allows the positioning bolt to serve both as a temporary alignment tool and as a potential permanent fastener, eliminating the need for specialized, expensive tooling and reducing overall manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3376072B1Method for attaching gear driving part, and internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 ISUZU MOTORS LTD
  • EP3376072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376072B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3376072B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for attaching a gear driving part of this disclosure includes a first step of inserting a positioning bolt (23) into a positioning hole (21) of a first gear from a front side, and then screwing the positioning bolt into a screw hole (24) of a fixation-side member to regulate a phase of the first gear with respect to the fixation-side member; and a second step of inserting a portion of the bolt protruding to a front side of the first gear into a hole (22) of the gear case, and meshing the first gear with the second gear while positioning the fixation-side member in a predetermined phase position of the gear case.