Helical Face Spline Coupling Torque Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spline couplings in motor vehicles face challenges in reducing backlash, vibration, and noise in drive-wheel arrangements, particularly in face spline couplings used between wheel end units and driven shafts, which affect the efficiency and reliability of torque transmission.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a face spline coupling with inter-fitting teeth in a helical configuration, where the teeth are formed with flanks tilted at a specific helix angle relative to the longitudinal axis, providing a detachable and quieter connection between the wheel end unit and the driven shaft, thereby reducing backlash, vibration, and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional longitudinal splined connections are used, then torque transmission is reliable, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional spline arrangement by switching from longitudinal splines (parallel to shaft axis) to face splines (perpendicular to shaft axis). This inversion simplifies manufacturing and assembly while maintaining reliable torque transmission through the meshed teeth on the face surfaces of the driven shaft and wheel hub.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the spline configuration from one dimension (longitudinal/axial direction) to another dimension (radial/facial direction). The face splines are arranged on surfaces perpendicular to the shaft axis, creating a different geometric arrangement that simplifies the coupling between the driven shaft and wheel hub while preserving torque transmission functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If face spline coupling with radial teeth is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but backlash, vibration, and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the spline teeth by configuring them in a helical pattern rather than straight radial lines. The helical teeth have curved surfaces that engage more smoothly, reducing backlash, vibration, and noise while maintaining the manufacturing simplicity of face splines. The curvature is achieved through specific geometric parameters including helix angle and tooth profile shaping.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If helical teeth configuration is implemented, then backlash, vibration, and noise are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific geometric parameters of the helical teeth, including helix angle, tooth height, and face width ratios, to achieve effective backlash reduction while keeping manufacturing precision requirements practical. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design balances performance improvement with manufacturability, avoiding excessively tight tolerances that would make production difficult.
Data Source
AI summary
A face spline coupling for transmitting torque between a wheel end unit and a driven shaft arranged in a longitudinal axis of a drive-wheel arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a first face spline formed in the wheel end unit and a second face spline formed in the driven shaft. The first face spline is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and faces the driven shaft, and the second face spline is also generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and faces the wheel end unit. The first and second face splines are meshed together and detachably coupled by inter-fitting teeth of each of the first and second face splines. In addition, the teeth in each of the first and second face splines are formed in a helical configuration.