Modular Roller Gearing Element for Faster Roller Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing roller pinion systems used in aircraft wheel drives are prone to damage and premature wear due to harsh operating conditions, requiring extensive and costly maintenance as the entire pinion must be dismantled for roller replacement.
Innovation Solution
A gearing element with obstacles that can be independently dismantled, featuring rollers mounted on rotary guides with blocking bearings and lubrication channels, allowing for quick replacement of damaged rollers without disassembling the entire system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the entire pinion is designed as a single integrated unit, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the maintenance time and complexity increase significantly when rollers need replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pinion is divided into multiple independent obstacles that can be removed separately from the support structure. Each obstacle contains one or more rollers and can be detached without dismantling the entire pinion, enabling selective replacement of only the damaged components while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pinion uses a fixed integrated design, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates as complete dismantling is required for any roller replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The pinion structure is segmented into a support and multiple independent obstacles. Each obstacle can be independently removed from the support by detaching fasteners, allowing repair personnel to access and replace rollers without complex dismantling procedures while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacles are designed to be extractable from the support structure. By providing removable fasteners that secure obstacles to the support, the design enables easy extraction of individual obstacles for roller replacement without affecting the rest of the pinion structure.
3Reliability
If rollers are secured with permanent fastening, then the reliability under high torque is improved, but the ease of maintenance deteriorates as complete pinion dismantling becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are designed with a dual nature: they provide strong permanent fastening during normal operation to ensure reliability under high torque loads, but can be easily removed when maintenance is required. This allows obstacles to be securely held during operation yet extracted for roller replacement during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic system that can change state between secured (during operation) and removable (during maintenance). This dynamic capability allows the same fastening mechanism to serve both reliability and ease of maintenance requirements.
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 design reduces maintenance time and costs by enabling the replacement of individual obstacles, thus minimizing downtime and extending the lifespan of aircraft wheel drive components.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary guide configured to guide rotation of the obstacle
Implementation Method 2
the lubrication means includes a lubrication channel configured and arranged to supply lubrication to the rotary guide
Data Source
AI summary
An improved serviceability gearing element generally includes a support having a plurality of obstacles for co-operating with teeth of a neighboring gearing element. The gearing element further includes a pin, a roller mounted to move in rotation about the pin via a rotary guide, blocking bearings shaped substantially to prevent the roller from moving in translation along the pin, and one or more fasteners for fastening at least one of the blocking bearings to the support.