High Torque Traction Drive Using Sloped Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traction drive systems face challenges in efficiently transferring rotational mechanical energy with high torque applications, as existing solutions often require complex gearing systems and suffer from frictional losses and wear.
Innovation Solution
A high torque traction drive system utilizing rollers with sloped surfaces and planet gears that engage a ring gear, creating a sloped pressure interface to increase friction and transfer rotational energy between a shaft and the rollers, thereby enhancing torque transmission without the need for traditional bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional gearing systems are used to transfer rotational mechanical energy with high torque, then torque transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and frictional losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional bearing support structure from the system. Instead of using bearings to support the shaft, the invention uses a traction drive system where rollers with sloped surfaces create friction-based adhesion directly between the shaft and the drive mechanism, removing the need for separate bearing components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical bearing support system with a friction-based traction drive system. The sloped roller surfaces create a pressure interface that generates friction sufficient to support and drive the shaft without physical contact bearings, substituting one mechanical system for another with reduced complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional bearings are used to support the shaft, then shaft stability is improved, but frictional losses and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful effect of friction into a beneficial force. The sloped roller surfaces are designed to create friction-based adhesion between the shaft and the drive mechanism, where friction that would normally be a source of energy loss becomes the primary mechanism for torque transmission and shaft support
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rollers with sloped surfaces as an intermediary element between the shaft and the drive mechanism. These rollers create a pressure interface that mediates the interaction, distributing loads and creating friction-based adhesion without requiring direct contact bearings
3Reliability
If traction fluid is added to increase friction at the traction drive interface, then adherence between traction surfaces is improved, but device complexity and parasitic losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the contact surfaces by introducing sloped geometries on the roller surfaces. This geometric modification alters the pressure distribution and friction characteristics at the traction interface, achieving reliable adherence through mechanical design rather than chemical additives
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 system effectively transfers rotational mechanical energy with increased friction and reduced wear, eliminating the need for bearings and allowing operation at high rotational speeds with minimal parasitic loss, thus improving efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
forcing the rollers towards the shaft, which forces the outer roller traction surfaces of the rollers against the shaft traction surface of the shaft, to create pressure on a shaft traction interface that is created between the shaft traction surface of the shaft and the outer roller traction surface of the rollers, that increases friction in the shaft traction interface, which causes the rotational mechanical energy to be transferred between the shaft and the rollers
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is high torque traction drive. The high torque traction drive utilizes planet gears that engage the inner mesh of a ring gear. The planet gears are mounted in rollers that have inner traction surfaces that engage sloped ring traction surfaces on traction rings that are attached to the ring gear. The sloped traction interface causes the rollers to move inwardly when forced toward the traction rings. The inward force on the rollers creates a shaft traction interface between a shaft and outer traction surfaces on the roller, so that rotational mechanical energy is effectively transferred between the rollers, the shaft and the ring gear. High rotational speeds can be achieved with a high degree of torque. Speed reduction ratios of at least 10:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.