Lubricated Harmonic Drive Stirrer Oil Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional harmonic drive gear reducers experience stress concentration and structural damage due to elastic deformation during operation, leading to reduced lifespan and increased wear, despite existing lubrication methods being inadequate in maintaining effective lubrication.
Innovation Solution
A lubricated harmonic drive design featuring a cup-shaped flex spline, a wave generator with a bearing and elliptical wheel, and at least one stirrer within an oil storage chamber, where the stirrer is driven to circulate lubricating oil for enhanced lubrication between the circular spline and flex spline, reducing wear and extending the harmonic drive's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating oil is supplied through an oil supply passage in the circular spline into an oil supply hole in the flex spline, then the wave generator can be well lubricated, but stress concentration occurs in the area around the oil supply hole causing structural damage to the flex spline
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the oil supply hole from the flex spline and relocates it to the wave generator. The oil supply passage remains in the circular spline, but the critical oil supply hole is moved to where it will not cause stress concentration in the flex spline. This is achieved by providing an oil supply hole in the wave generator that communicates with the oil supply passage, allowing lubricating oil to be supplied to the wave generator without compromising the flex spline's structural integrity.
2Productivity
If the flex spline is frequently and elastically deformed during operation, then the harmonic drive functions properly, but stress concentration occurs causing structural damage and reduced lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary lubrication action to the flex spline by providing an oil supply hole and oil supply passage that deliver lubricating oil to the flex spline before stress concentration and structural damage can occur. The lubricating oil is supplied in advance through the circular spline's oil supply passage into the flex spline's oil supply hole, creating a protective lubricating film that prevents wear and extends the flex spline's lifespan during frequent elastic deformation.
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 prolongs the harmonic drive's lifespan and reduces wear by ensuring consistent lubrication of the wave generator and engaged tooth surfaces, improving lubrication efficiency and preventing structural damage.
Implementation Method 1
the thrust stirring portions of the stirrers are forced to stir up the lubricating oil in the oil storage chamber, causing the lubricating oil to flow toward the wave generator
Implementation Method 2
the excessive amount of the lubricating oil will then flow toward the engaged tooth surfaces between the circular spline and the cup-shaped flex spline, and thus, the circular spline and the cup-shaped flex spline can be synchronously lubricated
Data Source
AI summary
A harmonic drive includes a circular spline, a cup-shaped flex spline meshed with the circular spline, a wave generator including an bearing mounted in the cup-shaped flex spline, an elliptical wheel mounted in the bearing and a coupling connected to the elliptical wheel so that an oil storage chamber is defined between the wave generator and the cup-shaped flex spline, and one or multiple stirrers connected to the coupling of the wave generator and drivable by the coupling to carry the storage lubricating oil out of the oil storage chamber for lubricating the bearing of the wave generator and the meshed tooth surfaces between the circular spline and the cup-shaped flex spline.