Harmonic Pin-Ring Transmission With Constant Pin Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current harmonic pin ring transmission systems face inefficiencies due to the lack of a robust mechanism for transmitting torque without bending moments, leading to uneven load distribution and potential wear on components.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a harmonic pin ring drive with a deformable thin-ring ball bearing and pin retaining ring, utilizing an oval or sinusoidal circular shape for the rotor flange, which distributes force evenly across pins and teeth, ensuring constant engagement and low surface pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional harmonic drive mechanism is used, then torque transmission is achieved, but bending moments cause uneven load distribution and component wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload distribution uniformityVSAvoidbending moments
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an oval-shaped rotor flange with sinusoidal curvature that generates a wave motion pattern, causing pins to move in a curved trajectory that maintains constant engagement with gear teeth. This curved motion path eliminates bending moments by ensuring forces are always applied radially, resulting in uniform load distribution across all pins and teeth throughout the rotation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Power

If pins are engaged with teeth throughout rotation, then power density is improved, but mechanical stress on pins increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower densityVSAvoidmechanical stress on pins
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The sinusoidal wave motion generated by the oval rotor flange creates a curved pin trajectory that maintains constant radial engagement between pins and teeth. This curved path distributes mechanical stress uniformly across all pins throughout the rotation cycle, preventing stress concentration on individual pins while maintaining continuous power transmission, thereby achieving high power density without excessive mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Volume of moving object

If a compact harmonic drive design is implemented, then space efficiency is improved, but surface pressure on contact points increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission sizeVSAvoidsurface pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves continuous engagement of all pins with gear teeth throughout the entire rotation cycle through the wave motion mechanism. This continuous action distributes the load across all contact points simultaneously, reducing surface pressure at any single point while maintaining compact dimensions. The constant engagement ensures that the compact design does not concentrate forces on limited contact areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 configuration achieves high efficiency, low wear, and a compact design by ensuring all pins remain engaged with teeth, resulting in improved power density and reduced mechanical stress.

Implementation Method 1

A deformable thin-ring ball bearing (102) with a deformable inner ring (123) and a deformable outer ring (124) is shrunk onto the oval cam (104)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3929469B1Harmonic pin ring transmission
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 TQ SYST GMBH
  • EP3929469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3929469B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3929469B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A harmonic pin-ring gear drive comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, two external gears each with internal teeth, and a single internal gear with external teeth. The internal gear is concentric to a first external gear and axially located inside the first external gear. A drive element extends between the two external gears and the internal gear and includes a circumferentially continuous pin retainer ring and a plurality of pins that project laterally from the pin retainer ring in the axial direction. A rotating transmitter lifts the drive element from the external teeth of the internal gear and presses the drive element into the internal teeth of the external gears.