Marine Drive Shift Actuator with Planetary Gearset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marine drive shift actuation systems are overly complex, prone to failure, and costly due to multiple parts and linkages, leading to increased maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A shift actuation system with an actuator motor directly mounted to the shift rod via one or more gear sets, housed closer to the transmission, utilizing a planetary gearset to rotate the shift rod between forward, reverse, and neutral states, reducing complexity and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parts and linkages are used in the shift actuation system, then the shift actuation can be achieved, but the system becomes overly complex and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple shift actuation components into a single integrated actuator assembly. The actuator directly mounts to the shift rod, eliminating separate linkages and intermediate parts. This merging of components reduces the overall number of parts while maintaining the shift actuation function, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple parts and linkages are used in the shift actuation system, then the shift actuation can be achieved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the actuator directly to the shift rod and eliminating intermediate linkages, the patent creates a simplified assembly with fewer components. This reduction in component count directly decreases maintenance requirements, as there are fewer parts that can fail or require adjustment, while still allowing for straightforward assembly of the integrated unit.
3Device complexity
If the actuator motor is directly mounted to the shift rod via gear sets, then the complexity is reduced, but the mechanical load on the gear sets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces planetary gear sets as an intermediary mechanism between the actuator motor and the shift rod. These gear sets serve as a mechanical mediator that transmits and modifies the force from the motor to the shift rod, distributing the mechanical load across multiple gear teeth and reducing the stress on any single component while maintaining the direct-mount configuration.
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
Simplifies the shift actuation process, reduces failure rates, and lowers maintenance costs by integrating the actuator motor directly with the shift rod mechanism, improving operational efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a planetary gearset to rotate the shift rod between forward, reverse, and neutral states
Data Source
AI summary
A marine drive includes an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor into rotation to effect a thrust, and a transmission that shifts amongst a forward gear for a forward thrust, a reverse gear for a reverse thrust, and a neutral state for a zero thrust. The marine drive further includes a shift rod rotatable about its own axis to shift the transmission amongst forward, reverse, and neutral, and an actuator. The actuator includes an actuator motor that rotates an output shaft and a gear shaft that effectuates rotation of a shift rod. The output shaft is connected to a gear shaft through a first gearset such that rotation of the output shaft causes the rotation of the gear shaft, and the gear shaft is connected to the shift rod through a planetary gearset such that rotation of the gear shaft causes the rotation of the shift rod.