Non-Circular Gear Equilibrator for Artillery Elevation Torque Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gear mechanisms in artillery systems face challenges in balancing counteracting moments from gravitational cantilever and torsion equilibrator, leading to reduced agility and controllability due to non-linear torque profiles across elevation ranges.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-circular gears with specific pitch radii calculations and fabrication methods to match and balance gravity-induced torque, employing a torsion spring equilibrator to maintain neutral buoyancy and improve system control, by calculating and fabricating non-circular gears based on pitch radii that satisfy constraints such as r1+r2=C and r1T2=r2T1, ensuring proper torque transmission and gear meshing across the elevation range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional circular gears are used in artillery elevation mechanisms, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the torque balance is poor leading to reduced agility and controllability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing conventional circular gears with non-circular gears having asymmetric pitch radius profiles. The first non-circular gear has a pitch radius that varies non-linearly with rotation angle, and the second non-circular gear has a corresponding asymmetric pitch radius profile. This asymmetric geometry enables the gear mechanism to balance the non-linear gravity torque acting on the artillery barrel throughout the elevation range, thereby improving system agility and controllability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through precise fabrication methods.
2Ease of operation
If non-circular gears with non-linear pitch radii are used to balance gravity torque, then neutral buoyancy and improved motion response are achieved, but the gear fabrication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing gears with dynamically varying pitch radii that change non-linearly with rotation angle. The first non-circular gear has a pitch radius r1(θ) that varies dynamically throughout its rotation, and the second non-circular gear has a corresponding dynamic pitch radius r2(φ). This dynamic geometry allows the gear mechanism to adaptively balance the non-linear gravity torque at each elevation angle, achieving neutral buoyancy and improved motion response. The complexity is managed through systematic design equations and precise fabrication techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the pitch radius parameters of the gears non-linearly with rotation angle. Instead of constant pitch radii, the first non-circular gear has pitch radius r1(θ) and the second has r2(φ), where these parameters change continuously according to specific non-linear relationships. This parameter variation enables the gear mechanism to match and balance the non-linear gravity torque profile throughout the elevation range, achieving neutral buoyancy while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic parameter design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the center of mass is separated from the rotation pivot axis to enable cantilevered barrel positioning, then the artillery can maintain barrel orientation, but gravitational torque increases reducing system agility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by using the non-circular gear mechanism to generate balancing torques that counteract the gravitational torque produced by the separated center of mass. The varying pitch radius geometry of the non-circular gears creates a mechanical advantage that balances the gravity moment throughout the elevation range, effectively creating a counteracting torque that neutralizes the effect of the offset center of mass. This enables the artillery to maintain barrel orientation stability while preserving system agility through improved torque balance.
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 solution enables neutral buoyancy and improved motion response, enhancing system control and acceleration capabilities by minimizing applied torque across the elevation range, thereby maximizing the agility and controllability of artillery systems.
Implementation Method 1
employing a torsion spring equilibrator to maintain neutral buoyancy and improve system control
Implementation Method 2
The proximal and distal non-circular gears are used with a torsion spring equilibrator to match by equilibrium the non-linear torque due gravity
Implementation Method 3
The gear mechanism includes a proximal non-circular gear and a distal non-circular gear that mesh together to transmit and balance torque
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for producing gears to balance counteracting gravity moment and a torque equilibrator across an elevation range. The method includes assigning a value to summation of pitch radii of the first and second non-circular gears; calculating a torque for both the non-circular gears for an angle within the elevation range; calculating a first pitch radius of the first non-circular gear by the gravity moment and the torsion equilibrator; calculating a second pitch radius of the second non-circular gear from the summation; and fabricating the non-circular gears based on the first and second pitch radii.