Grounding Hub Layout With Parallel Lubricant Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

In motor vehicles, shafts extending from transmission housings can induce electromagnetic interference and create potential differences, leading to malfunction and reduced bearing service life, necessitating effective grounding while also ensuring lubricant and coolant supply to these components.

Innovation Solution

A grounding hub is used to electrically connect the component to a conductive housing, with tubular sections forming a supply line for lubricant and coolant, and a recess system ensuring parallel supply paths to enhance lubrication and cooling, preventing backflow and obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tubular grounding hub is used to establish electrical connection, then grounding function is achieved, but lubricant supply to the component is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrounding reliabilityVSAvoidlubricant supply

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding hub is segmented into multiple functional zones: a tubular section for grounding and a recessed section for lubricant distribution. The recess creates a separate lubricant supply path that bypasses the tubular structure, allowing both grounding and lubrication functions to operate simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recess acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the tubular grounding hub and the component surface. It receives lubricant from the supply line and redistributes it to the component, solving the obstruction problem created by the tubular structure while maintaining grounding functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a single supply line is used through the grounding hub, then structure is simple, but lubricant supply reliability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply line structureVSAvoidlubricant supply reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lubricant supply path is segmented into two distinct routes: a first path through the tubular grounding hub and a second path through the recess. This segmentation creates redundant supply channels, ensuring that if one path is blocked or insufficient, the other can compensate, thereby improving overall supply reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recess is pre-formed in the grounding hub to create a备用 (backup) lubricant supply path before operation. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that alternative lubrication routes are already in place, improving reliability without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 arrangement effectively grounds components, reduces electromagnetic interference, and ensures reliable lubrication and cooling, improving the service life of bearings and overall component performance.

Implementation Method 1

at least some sections of the grounding hub are tubular and thereby form an axially extending supply line, which opens at the first axial end and along which lubricant and/or coolant is conductable in a first path to the first axial end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid conduction through tubular structure:

Implementation Method 2

the component to be grounded is electrically conductively connected via a grounding hub to a housing, which acts as ground for grounding the rotor shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

an electrically conductive connection between the grounding hub and the rotor shaft is established as a sliding contact via a grounding element, which is in the form of a carbon pin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSliding contact: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20240333112A1Arrangement for Grounding a Component

Publication Date: 2024.10.03 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

AI summary

An arrangement (15) for grounding a component includes a grounding hub (19) that electrically conductively connects the component with a ground. The grounding hub (19) electrically conductively connected to the component at a first axial end (24). The grounding hub (19) forms an axially extending supply line (28), which opens at the first axial end (24) and along which lubricant and/or coolant is flowable in a first path to the first axial end (24). The grounding hub (19) is arranged radially inwardly of a shaft (9), which is coaxial with at least with the grounding hub (19) and is also provided with at least one recess (35) that connects the supply line (28) to an intermediate space (37). A circumferential damming edge (38) is formed on an inner diameter of the shaft (9) and axially on a side of the at least one recess (35), by which, in interaction with the intermediate space (37), a second path is formed for conducting lubricant and/or coolant from the supply line (28) via the at least one recess (35) to the first axial end (24).