Gearless Ball Transmission With Unilateral Finger-Assisted Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gear-based speed reducers face challenges in achieving precise machining with minimal play between gears, leading to inaccuracies in applications requiring precise positioning, such as jewelry making and circuit board operations.
Innovation Solution
A gearless transmission unit utilizing unilaterally positioned finger assists that establish contact points on the same side of ball bearings, allowing for less stringent manufacturing tolerances and enabling operation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, which reduces the need for precise gear dimensions and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional gear-based speed reducers are used, then speed transmission is achieved, but manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy deteriorate due to gear play and strict tolerancing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gears entirely from the speed reduction mechanism, extracting the problematic gear-based power transmission and replacing it with a gearless ball bearing system. This eliminates gear play and the associated positioning inaccuracies while maintaining speed reduction functionality through the ball bearing arrangement between concentric races.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the traditional mechanical gear system with a different mechanical mechanism involving balls rolling between inner and outer races. This replacement eliminates the need for precisely machined gears and their associated tolerancing requirements, achieving speed reduction through the geometric relationship between the races and balls instead.
2Ease of manufacture
If unilateral finger assists are used, then manufacturing tolerances are relaxed, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The finger assists act as intermediary elements that mediate between the ball bearings and the outer race. These fingers provide a mechanical interface that allows the balls to be properly positioned and retained within the transmission unit, enabling relaxed tolerances in the outer race geometry while maintaining proper ball engagement and function.
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
This solution allows for more flexible manufacturing tolerances and increased energy efficiency by ensuring proper ball positioning within the transmission unit, extending its applicability and improving energy efficiency across various applications compared to traditional bilateral transmission arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
ball bearings disposed within the cage and spaced apart from each other
Implementation Method 2
because of minor flexing within the shafts, housing and transmission unit as a whole
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission arrangement includes an input shaft, an output shaft, an outer race mounted on one end of one of the input and output shafts, an inner race mounted on one end of the other of the input and output shafts, ball bearings, and first and second finger assists. The inner and outer races are arranged to create a cage. The ball bearings are disposed within the cage and spaced apart from each other. The first finger assist is mounted to press at least a first one of the ball bearings into position within the cage. The second finger assist is mounted to press at least a second one of the ball bearings into position within the cage. The second finger assist is disposed in registration with the first finger assist.