Oscillating Gear Reducer With Shaft-Led Heat Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear mechanisms in cooperative robots experience temperature rises due to frictional heat, leading to potential seizure and reduced product life, with insufficient heat dissipation from internal tooth pins limiting the effectiveness of temperature suppression.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a shaft with a high thermal conductivity portion extending over its entire axial length to actively transfer and release heat generated between gears, along with a support member having a high thermal conductivity portion, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and maintaining rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If internal tooth pins with higher thermal conductivity are used, then heat transfer from meshing points is improved, but the overall heat dissipation capability is insufficient due to small volume

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature rise suppressionVSAvoidheat storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from relying on small-volume internal tooth pins (0D/1D heat transfer) to using a shaft with high thermal conductivity portions extending over the entire axial length (1D/2D heat transfer pathway). This dimensional expansion of the heat dissipation structure enables more effective heat evacuation from the meshing points throughout the gear mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft with high thermal conductivity portions acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the gear meshing points and the external environment. This intermediary structure with enhanced thermal conductivity facilitates efficient heat transfer that overcomes the limitation of small-volume internal tooth pins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heat dissipation structures are added, then temperature rise is suppressed, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal temperature riseVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is designed to serve multiple functions: it transmits rotational force between gears and simultaneously acts as a heat dissipation structure through its high thermal conductivity portions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heat dissipation components, thereby suppressing temperature rise without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat dissipation function is merged with the rotational force transmission function by integrating high thermal conductivity portions into the shaft structure. This combination allows a single component to perform both mechanical and thermal management roles, avoiding additional structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If high thermal conductivity materials are used in shaft, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but rigidity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidshaft rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is designed with local high thermal conductivity portions rather than being entirely made of high thermal conductivity material. This local quality approach allows the shaft to maintain overall rigidity while providing enhanced heat transfer capability at specific locations where thermal management is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft employs composite construction combining materials with different properties - high thermal conductivity portions for heat transfer and rigid portions for structural support. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between heat transfer efficiency and rigidity by allowing each material to optimize its respective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 configuration effectively suppresses temperature rises within the gear mechanism, extending product life and reducing maintenance costs by ensuring reliable heat transfer and dissipation.

Implementation Method 1

the thermal conductivity of the shaft-side high thermal conductivity portion is higher than the thermal conductivity of the second gear... the heat generated by engagement between the first gear and the second gear and the heat generated between the second gear and the shaft can be actively transferred to the shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12018741B2Gear mechanism and robot

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 NABTESCO CORP

AI summary

A speed reducing mechanism according to one embodiment of the disclosure includes a case, internal tooth pins, an oscillating gear meshing with the internal tooth pins, an input crankshaft transmitting a rotational force to the oscillating gear, and an output shaft to which a rotational force of the oscillating gear is transmitted. One of the shafts at least partially has a shaft-side high thermal conductivity portion that extends over the entire axial length of the shaft and has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of the oscillating gear.