Gearbox Corrosion Inhibitor Container With Integrated Screw Plug

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing corrosion inhibitor containers for gearboxes require removal before commissioning, leading to potential delays due to missing screw plugs, which are not always available.

Innovation Solution

A corrosion protection container with a chamber for holding corrosion inhibitors, featuring a gas-permeable wall and external/internal threads, allowing it to be screwed into a gearbox housing, with a screw plug provided to seal the chamber after removal, ensuring the container's presence and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a corrosion inhibitor reservoir is installed in a gearbox, then corrosion protection is provided, but the reservoir must be removed before commissioning and a screw plug must be available to seal the opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidcommissioning delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The screw plug is pre-installed in the corrosion inhibitor reservoir before the reservoir is mounted on the gearbox. When the reservoir is removed for commissioning, the plug is already in place to seal the opening, eliminating the need to search for or install a separate plug and preventing commissioning delays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The screw plug is nested within the corrosion inhibitor reservoir structure, specifically positioned in the internal thread of the reservoir body. This integration ensures the plug is always available with the reservoir and cannot be lost separately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a corrosion inhibitor reservoir is used, then corrosion protection is achieved, but additional components (screw plugs) must be managed and secured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidcomponent management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screw plug and corrosion inhibitor reservoir are combined into a single integrated assembly. The plug is threaded into the reservoir body during manufacturing, creating one unified component that reduces the total number of separate parts to manage and eliminates the risk of losing the plug

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw plug is nested within the reservoir structure, positioned in the internal thread of the reservoir body. This integration ensures the plug is always available with the reservoir and cannot be lost separately, simplifying component management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Ensures timely commissioning of gearboxes by providing a screw plug to seal the chamber, preventing delays and ensuring continuous corrosion protection without requiring additional components.

Implementation Method 1

The corrosion protection container further comprises at least one gas-permeable or permeable wall. In particular, the wall is permeable to the released corrosion-inhibiting gases and/or to moisture.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas permeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

Corrosion inhibitor refers to an agent that releases gases for corrosion protection, i.e. gases that inhibit corrosion, and/or a moisture-absorbing agent, such as silicate gel.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3420251B1Corrosion inhibitor container ii
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3420251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3420251B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a corrosion inhibitor container (101) having at least one chamber for accommodating a corrosion inhibitor, having at least one gas-permeable wall and having at least one external thread (105); wherein the corrosion inhibitor container (101) is able to be screwed into a core hole in a gearbox housing by way of the external thread (105); wherein the wall separates the chamber from an interior of the gearbox housing when the corrosion inhibitor container (101) has been screwed into the core hole. The corrosion inhibitor container (101) has at least one internal thread (111); wherein a screw plug (201) is able to be screwed into the internal thread (111); and wherein the screw plug (201) is able to be screwed into the core hole when the corrosion inhibitor container (101) is not screwed into the core hole.