Multi-Plate Clutch Transmission for Quiet Marine Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine vehicle transmissions, such as cone clutches and hydraulic plate clutches, suffer from mechanical 'clunk' during engagement, are complex, and require additional components like oil pumps and hydraulic control valves, making them inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A multi-plate clutch transmission system with a sleeve and clutch basket featuring radially extending friction disks, where the sleeve's internal and external threads are designed to engage and disengage frictionally using prime mover torque, eliminating the need for external oil pressure and reducing mechanical noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional cone clutches are used with rigid materials to satisfy high axial and radial forces, then torque transmission capability is improved, but mechanical noise and shift clunk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from rigid materials to elastomeric materials for the clutch elements. This parameter change allows the clutch to transmit torque through friction while absorbing shock and reducing mechanical noise, eliminating the shift clunk associated with rigid cone clutches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction with elastomeric materials combined with rigid housing structures. The elastomeric clutch elements provide noise reduction and smooth engagement, while the rigid housing maintains structural integrity for high torque transmission capability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hydraulic plate clutches are used to accomplish smooth shifting, then mechanical noise is reduced, but device complexity and production cost increase due to oil pumps and hydraulic control valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the hydraulic control system (oil pump, control valves, fluid passages) from the transmission design. The elastomeric clutch elements are directly actuated by the drivetrain forces, removing the need for separate hydraulic control components and simplifying the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric clutch elements automatically engage and disengage based on the natural forces within the drivetrain, without requiring external hydraulic control. The system serves itself by utilizing the motion and forces already present in the drivetrain to control clutch operation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hydraulic plate clutches are used with multiple components, then smooth shifting is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clutch elements directly into the drivetrain components, eliminating separate hydraulic control mechanisms. The elastomeric clutch elements are integrated with the gear shafts and housings, reducing the total weight by removing redundant components while maintaining smooth shifting capability.
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 achieves smooth, quiet shifting, reduces complexity and weight, and lowers production costs by utilizing axial forces and prime mover torque for clutch operation, avoiding the 'clunk' associated with traditional transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more friction disks extending radially inward from an interior surface of the clutch basket... one or more friction disks extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the sleeve... move into contact with the one or more friction disks on the clutch basket
Implementation Method 2
the one or more shafts comprising an externally threaded portion with external threads... the sleeve comprising internal threads that mate with the externally threaded portion on the one or more shafts
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-plate clutch transmission includes an arrangement for selectively engaging the clutch by moving the sleeve to cause one or more friction disks on a sleeve connected to a shaft to move into contact with one or more friction disks on a clutch basket connected to a gear driven by another gear and another shaft driven by a prime mover. An arrangement for selectively disengaging the clutch is provided that uses prime mover torque to move the one or more friction disks on the sleeve out of contact with the one or more.friction disks on the clutch basket.