Offset Gearbox Assembly for Nonparallel Shaft Torque Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional offset gearboxes face challenges in applications with limited space or tight clearance areas, due to their size, weight, complexity, and efficiency, making them unsuitable for applications like aircraft wing flap drive mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile, rotating-shaft transmission device is designed with an offset gearbox assembly that includes an output gear, idler gear, and input gear assembly, allowing for nonparallel coupling of input and output shafts to transmit torque efficiently, reducing the footprint and weight while simplifying the arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bevel gear gearbox and spur gear gearbox are connected by a separate rotating shaft to transmit torque between non-intersecting shafts, then torque transmission is achieved, but the footprint, size, and weight become too large for limited space applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bevel gear gearbox and spur gear gearbox into a single integrated offset gearbox assembly, eliminating the need for a separate rotating shaft connection. The integrated design combines multiple gear mechanisms (bevel gears, spur gears, and planet gears) within one compact housing, reducing the overall footprint while maintaining torque transmission capability between non-intersecting shafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested gear arrangements where planet gears are positioned within the annulus gear, and additional gear mechanisms are nested within the same spatial envelope. This nesting allows multiple gear stages to occupy overlapping or concentric spaces, significantly reducing the device's external dimensions while achieving the required gear reduction and offset shaft alignment.
2Reliability
If conventional offset gearbox arrangement is used to accommodate non-intersecting shafts, then shaft coupling is achieved, but the weight becomes excessive for applications with tight clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple gear mechanisms into a single integrated assembly, eliminating duplicate components and reducing overall weight. The merged design shares common structural elements, bearings, and housing among the bevel gear, spur gear, and planet gear mechanisms, thereby reducing total material usage and weight while maintaining shaft coupling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes gear ratios and tooth configurations to achieve the required torque transmission with fewer gear stages, reducing the number of components and overall weight. By carefully selecting gear parameters such as module, number of teeth, and pressure angle, the design achieves efficient torque transmission between offset shafts with minimal material.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate bevel gear gearbox and spur gear gearbox are used to achieve offset shaft coupling, then non-parallel shaft alignment is achieved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the bevel gear mechanism and spur gear mechanism into a single offset gearbox assembly, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system. The merged design uses shared structural elements and common mounting interfaces, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the capability to couple non-parallel shafts at various angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the offset gearbox assembly to perform multiple functions within a single device: it provides torque transmission, achieves shaft offset alignment, and accommodates non-parallel shaft configurations. The universal design allows the same basic assembly to handle different gear ratios and shaft angle requirements through configurable internal gear arrangements.
4Reliability
If conventional offset gearbox with multiple separate gearboxes and shafts is used, then torque transmission between offset shafts is achieved, but transmission efficiency decreases due to multiple connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple gear mechanisms into a single integrated assembly with direct internal gear connections, eliminating the need for external shaft couplings and intermediate connection points. This direct internal connectivity reduces the number of interfaces where energy loss occurs, improving overall transmission efficiency while maintaining the torque transmission function between offset shafts.
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 solution enables a more compact, efficient, and cost-effective torque transmission system with reduced complexity, addressing the limitations of conventional offset gearboxes by providing a smaller footprint, lower weight, and improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An output gear is mounted in the offset gearbox assembly so as to be coupled to the output shaft and to be rotatable in a drive direction about an output gear axis to rotate the output shaft. An idler gear is mounted in the offset gearbox assembly so as to be coupled to the output gear and to be rotatable about an idler gear axis in association with the output gear. An input gear assembly is mounted in the offset gearbox assembly so as to be coupled to the idler gear and to be rotatable about an input gear axis in association with the idler gear.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission device, comprising an offset gearbox assembly coupling rotatable input and output shafts extending in respective input and output axial directions. An output gear is mounted in the offset gearbox assembly and is rotatable in a drive direction about an output gear axis to rotate the output shaft coupled therewith. An idler gear coupled to the output gear is rotatable about an idler gear axis in association with the output gear. An input gear assembly is coupled to the idler gear, is rotatable about an input gear axis in association with the idler gear, and is coupled to the input shaft such that rotation of the input shaft causes rotation of the output gear in the drive direction. The input gear assembly has the input shaft coupled therewith such that the input axial direction is nonparallel to the output axial direction. An associated method is also provided.