Multi-Wheel Drive Pinion for Compact Torque Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing form-fit drives face limitations in power transmission due to the number of simultaneously meshing teeth, which can lead to overloading of individual engagement elements and require larger space and higher torque demands, while irregularities in the mating toothing are not adequately compensated.

Innovation Solution

A drive system with multiple drive wheels, each with tangentially offset engagement elements, allowing alternately engaged mating toothing, and controlled torque distribution to compensate for irregularities, enabling smaller dimensions and redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the diameter of the drive pinion is increased to transmit higher torques, then the torque transmission capability is improved, but the space required and the torque demand on the gearbox significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidspace required

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive pinion is divided into multiple drive wheels (first drive wheel, second drive wheel, etc.), each with their own engagement elements. These drive wheels are arranged such that their engagement elements alternately engage the mating toothing, distributing the torque transmission across multiple smaller wheels rather than requiring one large drive pinion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single drive wheel is used, then the structure is simple, but indexing errors in the mating toothing cause the entire driving force to be transmitted by a single engagement element, leading to overloading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidengagement element loading distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement elements are arranged in a displaceable manner relative to one another, allowing them to dynamically adjust and distribute the driving force across multiple engagement points. This dynamic arrangement ensures that indexing errors in the mating toothing do not concentrate the entire driving force on a single engagement element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If multiple drive wheels are used with tangentially offset engagement elements, then torque distribution is improved and space requirements are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementsVSAvoiddrive wheel arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple drive wheels are combined in a compact arrangement where they share a common axis or closely spaced axes. The drive wheels are positioned such that their engagement elements alternately engage the mating toothing, allowing them to function as a unified drive system while occupying less space than a single large drive wheel would require.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250264150A1Drive system

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 BEUTLER JORG

AI summary

Drive systems may include a drive element and a mating toothing. The drive element 2 has a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, each of them having engagement elements. The engagement elements of the first drive wheel and the engagement elements of the second drive wheel engage the mating toothing alternately, and at least one engagement element of the first drive wheel and at least one engagement element of the second drive wheel are in engagement with the mating toothing at least for a period of time.