Harmonic Drive Clamping Geometry for Stable Camshaft Friction Torque

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing variable speed gear arrangements for camshafts in internal combustion engines face challenges in maintaining consistent friction torque and operational reliability, leading to potential slippage and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed adjusting gear arrangement incorporates a strain wave gear device with a deformation section that includes a contact surface and a deformation surface, allowing for a clamping connection that maintains a constant friction radius and generates a higher friction torque, reducing slippage and enhancing operational reliability through a cost-effective design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional clamping assembly with a screw is used to connect the ring gear to the camshaft, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the friction torque is insufficient and slippage occurs during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the clamping assembly by introducing a deformation section with specific contact surface and deformation surface configurations. This modifies the friction characteristics and contact pressure distribution, thereby increasing friction torque and preventing slippage without fundamentally changing the clamping mechanism structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The deformation section incorporates curved surfaces (contact surface and deformation surface) that improve contact area and pressure distribution between the clamping assembly components. This curvature-based design enhances friction torque generation while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the friction radius varies during operation, then the clamping assembly is simpler to design, but the friction torque becomes inconsistent leading to slippage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a deformation section with specifically designed contact surface and deformation surface that maintain a constant friction radius during operation. This geometric configuration ensures consistent friction torque while remaining manufacturable through standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively reduces slippage and increases operational reliability by maintaining a consistent friction radius and generating a higher friction torque, while being cost-effective to produce.

Implementation Method 1

The deformation section (7) has a contact surface (7a) and a deformation surface (7b). The contact surface (7a) bears against the clamping connection partner. The clamping assembly partners are clamped together so that the deformation section (7) is deformed and the deformation surface (7b) lies flat against the clamping connection partner.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3532711B1Variable-speed gear arrangement for a vehicle, vehicle comprising the variable-speed gear arrangement, and method for assembling the variable-speed gear arrangement
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP3532711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3532711B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3532711B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a variable-speed gear arrangement (1) for a vehicle, comprising a harmonic drive device (2), a driven wheel (4) and a stop disk (5), the stop disk (5) being arranged between the driven wheel (4) and the shaft (3), with a fixing means (8) for connecting the shaft (3) to the stop disk (5) and the driven wheel (4), the fixing means (8) pressing the shaft (3), the stop disk (5) and the driven wheel (4) together in the axial direction such that a clamping connection is formed, the driven wheel (4) and/or the shaft (3) and/or the abutment disk (5) comprising a deformation section (7), the deformation section (7) comprising a contact surface (7a) and a deformation surface (7b). In a first state of assembly, the deformation section (7) brings a member of the clamping connection into contact with the contact surface (7a) and the deformation surface (7b) simultaneously forms a free deformation region (7c) in relation to the member of the clamping connection, and in a second state of assembly, the contact surface (7a) and the deformation surface (7b) are applied to the member of the clamping connection in a flat manner.