Radially Displaceable Gearbox Teeth With Low-Wear Axial Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gearboxes suffer from undesirable wear and complex assembly due to the axial support of bearing segments, particularly in gearboxes with radially displaceable teeth and drive elements.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of bearing segments with central beads and recesses, combined with a retaining ring that engages with the bead, provides axial support and allows for pivotable teeth, reducing wear and simplifying assembly by eliminating the need for additional guide or support elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If thrust washers are used laterally to support bearing segments, then axial support is provided, but undesirable wear occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial supportVSAvoidwear
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful lateral thrust washer support mechanism and replaces it with a tooth-based axial support system. The teeth, through their articulation on the bearing segment and engagement with the toothed section, provide the necessary axial support without the sliding contact that causes wear in traditional thrust washer arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth acts as an intermediary element that transfers axial loads from the toothed section to the bearing segment through articulated mounting. This mediator mechanism eliminates the need for direct lateral thrust washer contact while maintaining axial support functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If traditional axial support mechanisms are used, then bearing segments are supported, but assembly becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial supportVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the axial support function with the existing tooth mounting structure. By articulating the teeth on the bearing segments and having them engage with the toothed section, the same tooth assembly provides both radial drive transmission and axial support, eliminating the need for separate lateral support components and simplifying assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth structure serves multiple functions: it transmits radial drive forces from the profile, provides axial support through its articulated mounting on the bearing segment, and engages with the toothed section for power transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall assembly.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4086477B1Transmission
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 WITTENSTEIN SE
  • EP4086477B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4086477B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4086477B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Gearbox (1), in particular coaxial gearbox or linear gearbox, comprising a toothed section (5), a tooth carrier (11) in which a plurality of teeth (7) are received for meshing with the toothed section, wherein the teeth (7) are mounted so as to be radially displaceable relative to the tooth carrier (11), a drive element with a profile (22) for radially driving the radially displaceable teeth (7), and bearing segments (24) for mounting the teeth on the profile, wherein each of the bearing segments comprises: a running side oriented in the direction of the profile and a bearing side opposite the running side, a tooth bearing arranged on the bearing side for the pivotal mounting of at least one of the teeth, wherein the tooth bearing comprises a bead at least substantially shaped in a cylindrical section, which is arranged in a direction transverse to a running direction of the bearing segment from a first side edge to a second side edge of the bearing segment,and wherein the bead is arranged in a central area between the first side edge and the second side edge and has a first recess on a first side of the central area and/or has a second recess on a second side of the central area.