Offset Planetary Drive with Hollow Shaft Conductor Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drives for lawn mowers and utility vehicles lack a compact and versatile solution for protecting power and control conductors, limiting their orientation and efficiency in various vehicle configurations.
Innovation Solution
A CAN Bus-enabled, electrically-powered, offset planetary reduction drive with a protected, integrated power and control module, featuring a versatile mounting interface and a two-stage planetary reduction assembly, allowing for compact design and flexible orientation to protect power and control conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact electric drive design is implemented, then the envelope size is reduced, but the protection of power and control conductors becomes compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The power and control conductors are routed through the hollow interior of the output shaft, nesting the electrical conductors within the mechanical structure. This eliminates the need for external conductor routing while maintaining a compact envelope, as the conductors are protected inside the existing structural component rather than requiring additional external protective pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The output shaft serves as an intermediary structure that simultaneously performs its mechanical function of transmitting power and provides a protective pathway for electrical conductors. By utilizing the hollow interior of the output shaft as a conduit, the design protects conductors without adding external protective structures that would increase the envelope size.
2Device complexity
If a fixed mounting orientation is used, then the structure is simplified, but the versatility of vehicle configuration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting interface is designed with multiple threaded holes arranged in a pattern that allows the electric drive to be mounted in various orientations and positions. This universal mounting capability enables the same simplified mounting structure to accommodate different vehicle configurations, eliminating the need for complex orientation-specific mounting solutions while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting holes are positioned asymmetrically relative to the electric drive housing, allowing flexible orientation of the drive unit. The asymmetric placement of mounting features enables the same mounting structure to accommodate different mounting angles and positions, providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized mounting configurations.
3Ease of operation
If conductors are routed externally, then accessibility is improved, but protection from harmful factors is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conductors are nested within the hollow output shaft, providing protection from external harmful factors such as moisture, debris, and mechanical damage. The nested configuration maintains accessibility by allowing the conductors to be routed through the shaft interior and connected to the motor assembly, while the shaft structure itself serves as the protective enclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The output shaft acts as an intermediary protective structure that shields the conductors from harmful environmental factors and mechanical damage. The shaft's hollow interior provides a protected pathway for conductor routing, while the solid exterior of the shaft maintains structural integrity and protection against external hazards.
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 provides a compact and versatile electric drive system that protects power and control conductors, enabling efficient operation in various vehicle configurations and enhancing the protection of electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
a brushless direct current motor having a motor output shaft that rotates about a first axis
Implementation Method 2
a two-stage planetary reduction assembly having an input shaft that rotates about the first axis and an output shaft that rotates about a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis
Data Source
AI summary
A reduction drive including an electric motor disposed in a housing and driving a motor shaft, a Hall Effect sensor adjacent to the motor, a power and control module, and a pinion gear in the housing and driven by the motor shaft. A planetary gear reduction assembly includes a first ring gear rotatably disposed in the housing and driven by the pinion gear, a sun gear engaged to and driven by the first ring gear, a second ring gear non-rotatably fixed to a housing surface, and a plurality of planet gears mounted on a carrier assembly, each planet gear rotating with the sun gear, and on the second ring gear. An output axle is driven by the carrier assembly and has an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to the motor shaft axis of rotation.