Gearbox Oil Trap Device Using Curved Plates and Guide Tubes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transmission systems have a limited service life due to inefficient oil lubrication and susceptibility to faults, which can be attributed to the lack of effective oil collection and recirculation mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

An oil catch device comprising a catch plate and a guide tube is integrated into the transmission system, allowing for the collection and recirculation of oil thrown away by gears, eliminating the need for an oil pump and reducing internal piping, thereby enhancing lubrication and service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an oil pump and internal piping system are used for oil recirculation, then oil can be returned to the lubrication circuit, but the device complexity and susceptibility to faults increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesusceptibility to faultsVSAvoidinternal piping
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the oil pump from the lubrication system. Instead of using a mechanical pump to recirculate oil, the system relies on natural oil flow patterns and gravity to return oil to the lubrication circuit, thereby reducing device complexity and susceptibility to faults while maintaining oil recirculation functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lubrication system performs self-service by utilizing the natural flow of oil and gravitational forces to recirculate oil without requiring an external power source or mechanical pump. The oil thrown away by gears naturally flows back to the catch plate and is returned to the lubrication circuit through the guide tube connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If a large catch plate surface area is used to collect oil, then oil collection efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil collection efficiencyVSAvoidcatch plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the catch plate with the guide tube by providing a connection between the first end area of the catch plate and the first end area of the guide tube. This integration allows the catch plate to have a large surface area for oil collection while the guide tube provides the recirculation pathway, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high oil collection efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the catch plate and guide tube serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables oil recirculation, and acts as a fastening mechanism. The guide tube connection point serves as both the oil return pathway and the mounting structure for the catch plate, reducing the number of separate components needed

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If the catch plate is firmly connected to the housing, then the connection stability improves, but the manufacturing and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the connection functions by integrating the catch plate attachment directly to the guide tube structure. The first end area of the catch plate connects to the first end area of the guide tube, creating a stable connection that serves both structural and functional purposes, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining connection stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 oil catch device effectively recirculates lubricating oil, increasing the service life of the transmission by improving lubrication and reducing the risk of faults, while simplifying the connection to the lubricating oil pipe system and eliminating the need for internal piping.

Implementation Method 1

surface tension effects and gravity cause the oil to be guided into a lubricating oil pipe system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

surface tension effects and gravity cause the oil to be guided into a lubricating oil pipe system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2147235B1Oil trap device, gearbox, and method
Publication Date: 2011.09.07 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2147235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2147235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2147235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a gearbox having an oil trap device capturing the lubricating oil spun away from the gear wheels and supplying the bearings. The oil trap device comprises trap plates, which extend in a curved shape around the gear wheels and are attached in guide tubes. The guide tubes receive the lubricating oil from the trap plates and hold the trap plates on the gearbox housing.