Oil Accumulation Cover Structure for Stable Bearing And Gear Lubrication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices face challenges in improving lubricity, particularly in lubricating bearings and gear mechanisms, leading to inefficiencies and potential wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates an oil accumulation portion with an enlarged upper side in the gravity direction, featuring a communication passage above the lowest points of lubrication targets, ensuring consistent lubrication by maintaining a sufficient oil level through a communication passage connecting the gear chamber and the oil accumulation portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oil accumulation portion is designed with uniform thickness, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the lubrication effectiveness is insufficient because oil cannot be properly retained at the lowest points
Solution Approach 1:
The oil accumulation portion is designed with asymmetric thickness distribution, being thicker at the upper side and thinner at the lower side. This asymmetric geometry allows the oil to naturally accumulate at the lower region while maintaining adequate storage capacity, directly resolving the contradiction between lubrication effectiveness and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the oil accumulation portion are given different thickness characteristics to fulfill specific functions: the thicker upper region provides oil storage capacity while the thinner lower region facilitates oil flow to the lubrication points. This local differentiation of properties optimizes both lubrication performance and manufacturing ease
2Reliability
If the communication passage is positioned at the lowest point, then oil can be easily supplied to lubrication targets, but oil level becomes unstable and insufficient during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage is pre-positioned at a height above the lowest point of the lubrication target, creating a predetermined oil level buffer zone. This preliminary positioning ensures that even when oil level fluctuates, the passage remains submerged and continues to supply oil effectively, preventing lubrication failure
Solution Approach 2:
By placing the communication passage above the lowest point, the design creates a safety margin or cushion against oil level drops. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the oil supply function is protected even under varying operating conditions, maintaining reliable lubrication
3Reliability
If more oil is stored in the accumulation portion, then lubrication is improved, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing oil storage volume uniformly in all directions, the design utilizes the vertical dimension by creating thickness variation in the oil accumulation portion. The asymmetric thickness profile allows adequate oil storage capacity to be achieved through vertical distribution rather than horizontal expansion, maintaining compact device dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameter of the oil accumulation portion from uniform thickness to variable thickness. This parameter modification optimizes the oil storage density, allowing sufficient lubrication oil to be held in a smaller overall volume by concentrating storage in the thicker upper region
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 design enhances lubricity by maintaining an optimal oil level, reducing wear and tear on bearings and gear mechanisms, thereby improving the efficiency and longevity of the device.
Implementation Method 1
the communication passage is provided above respective lowest points on a lower side in a gravity direction of lubrication target locations
Implementation Method 2
the oil accumulation portion includes an enlarged portion in which an upper side in the gravity direction is thicker than a lower side in an axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes: a motor; a gear device disposed on one side of the motor and including a first lubricated member; an oil accumulation portion provided on the other side of the motor; a second lubricated member provided in the oil accumulation portion; and a communication passage configured to allows gear device side to communicate with the oil accumulation portion, in which the communication passage is provided above respective lowest points on a lower side in a gravity direction of lubrication target locations of the first lubricated member and the second lubricated member, the oil accumulation portion includes an enlarged portion in which an upper side in the gravity direction is thicker than a lower side in an axial direction, and the lowest point of the second lubricated member is positioned in the enlarged portion.