Meshing Engagement Mechanism with Asymmetric Dog Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The meshing type engagement mechanism faces difficulties in releasing the engagement due to frictional forces opposing the separation of dog teeth, leading to complex control coordination between torque and operating force, resulting in potential delays.
Innovation Solution
A control system incorporating an electronic control unit, a fluid chamber, and a switching valve, with inclined tooth surfaces to generate a release force that separates the dog teeth, allowing for independent control of torque and operating force, simplifying the release process and maintaining engagement with reduced fluid pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the meshing type engagement mechanism uses frictional contact between dog teeth to transmit torque, then torque transmission is achieved, but the frictional force opposes the separation direction making it difficult to release the engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The dog teeth are designed with asymmetric geometry where one surface is inclined at an angle to the axial direction while the opposing surface is perpendicular to the axial direction. This asymmetry creates directional force components: the inclined surface generates a release force in the separation direction when torque is applied, while the perpendicular surface maintains torque transmission capability. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both strong torque transmission and easy release through geometric asymmetry.
2Reliability
If the control system coordinates torque control and operating force control to release the engagement, then reliable release is achieved, but the control becomes complicated and delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined surfaces of the dog teeth automatically generate a release force in the separation direction when torque is transmitted through the meshed engagement. This self-generated release force eliminates the need for complex coordinated control between torque and operating force systems. The mechanism serves itself by using the torque transmission process to create the conditions for its own release, thereby simplifying the control system while maintaining reliable release functionality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fluid pressure is continuously supplied to the fluid chamber to maintain engagement, then engagement stability is ensured, but power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates the switching valve in periodic cycles: supplying fluid pressure to the fluid chamber to engage and hold the dog teeth meshed, then cutting off the fluid supply to disengage. This periodic action replaces continuous fluid supply with intermittent supply, maintaining engagement stability when needed while eliminating unnecessary power consumption during disengagement and transition phases, thereby reducing overall power loss.
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 simplifies the control for releasing the engagement mechanism by generating a release force that separates the dog teeth, reducing the need for coordinated control of torque and operating force, while maintaining engagement with lower fluid pressure, thereby reducing power loss and fluid volume.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid chamber (10) is configured to allow the second member (30) to be moved to the first member (20) side by an operating force attributable to supply of fluid
Implementation Method 2
tooth surfaces where the dog teeth are in contact with each other transmitting a torque are inclined surfaces such that a release force in a direction in which the first member and the second member are separated from each other in the axial direction is generated in response to the torque
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A control system for a meshing type engagement mechanism (1) includes a meshing type engagement mechanism (1) and an electronic control unit (18). The electronic control unit (18) is configured to allow a fluid chamber (10) to be filled with a fluid by putting a switching valve (16) into a cut-off state after respective dog teeth mesh with each other by a second member (7) reaching a predetermined position determined in advance in response to a fluid pressure of the fluid chamber (10) such that the second member (7) is pressed in the direction in which the second member (7) is separated from a first member (4) by a release force depending on the torque transmitted between a surface of a first tooth and a surface of a second tooth, the fluid pressure of the fluid chamber (10) is increased, and an engagement state between the first member (4) and the second member (7) is maintained by the fluid pressure which is increased.