Nested Housing Cover Assembly to Block Dust in Gear Conveyance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing planetary gear devices face issues with dust intrusion during conveyance due to the open design, necessitating additional sealing measures which are cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A gear device with a housing cover having a center opening for a connection shaft and an annular shape, featuring a detachable assembling mechanism for another housing cover to prevent foreign matter intrusion, allowing for secure sealing during conveyance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the housing cover is designed with an open center opening for motor shaft insertion, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but dust and foreign matter can intrude during conveyance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoiddust intrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Another housing cover is detachably assembled onto the first housing cover, creating a nested structure where the second cover fits over the first. This nested configuration allows the open center opening to be sealed during conveyance while maintaining easy access during assembly, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and dust protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing cover system transitions from a static open state during assembly to a dynamic sealed state during conveyance. The detachable nature of the second housing cover allows it to be added or removed as needed, enabling the system to adapt its sealing state based on operational requirements rather than being fixed in one configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cap is attached to seal the opening during conveyance, then dust intrusion is prevented, but the device complexity and number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust intrusion preventionVSAvoidnumber of sealing components

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second housing cover serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural component of the housing, provides sealing during conveyance, and maintains the structural integrity of the assembly. By making the sealing element multi-functional rather than a dedicated cap, the overall device complexity is reduced while still achieving dust protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is merged with the housing cover structure itself. Instead of using a separate cap specifically for sealing, the second housing cover combines the sealing function with the structural housing function, reducing the total number of components needed while effectively preventing dust intrusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11859650B2Gear device

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 ENPLAS CORP

AI summary

A gear device includes: a housing cover having an annular shape and including a center opening configured to dispose a connection shaft for a gear, the housing cover being disposed at one end portion of a housing in an axis direction, the housing having a cylindrical shape and configured to house the gear. At an outer surface of the housing cover, an assembling mechanism configured to detachably assemble another housing cover is provided.