Parallel Shaft Gear Arrangement for Compact Machine Tool Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear arrangements in machine tools, such as rotary hammers, require a significant amount of installation space due to the length and positioning of the hammer mechanism, leading to inefficient use of space and potential collisions between components.

Innovation Solution

A gear arrangement with a countershaft parallel to the intermediate shaft, allowing the wobble drive device to be connected to the countershaft and converting rotational movement into translational movement, while the coaxial toothed ring can engage or disengage with the drive spindle to optimize space usage and switch between operating modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the hammer mechanism is arranged with the wobble bearing close to the driven shaft, then the hammer mechanism can be compact, but the wobble bearing may collide with the driven shaft or spur gear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidcollision prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the transmission system into two independent parallel shafts: an intermediate shaft for torque transmission and a countershaft for hammer mechanism drive. This segmentation allows the wobble bearing to be positioned on the countershaft away from the driven shaft and spur gear, eliminating collision risks while maintaining compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The countershaft acts as an intermediary element between the intermediate shaft and the wobble bearing. It receives rotational movement from the intermediate shaft via gear engagement and converts it to linear movement through the wobble bearing, enabling spatial separation of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If the intermediate shaft is positioned to transmit torque efficiently, then torque transmission is optimized, but the overall length of the gear arrangement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmissionVSAvoidgear arrangement length
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second parallel shaft (countershaft) at a different spatial dimension, allowing the wobble bearing and hammer mechanism to be positioned alongside rather than along the length of the intermediate shaft. This dimensional change reduces the overall length of the gear arrangement while maintaining torque transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If the gear arrangement is made shorter to improve space utilization, then installation space is optimized, but component positioning becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidcomponent positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the transmission into two parallel shafts with distinct functions, the patent simplifies component positioning. The intermediate shaft handles torque transmission with standardized gear connections, while the countershaft handles hammer mechanism drive, making manufacturing and assembly easier despite the compact layout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 gear arrangement is significantly shorter and lighter, allowing for better utilization of available space and preventing collisions, while enabling efficient torque transmission and mode switching.

Implementation Method 1

a wobble drive device (32) which is connected to the countershaft (30) and is capable of converting a rotational movement of the countershaft (30) into a translational movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWobble drive mechanism:

Data Source

PatentEP2700477B1Drive train assembly for a machine tool and machine tool
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 METABOWERKE
  • EP2700477B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2700477B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2700477B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The gear assembly (10) has a drive spindle (14) for driving a tool, while a coaxial gear ring (28) is coupled with the drive spindle. A drive torque from a driven shaft (12) is transmitted to the driving spindle by an intermediate shaft (20). A counter shaft (30) has a gear (26), which is engaged or disengaged with the coaxial gear ring of the drive spindle in an operating mode of the machine tool. The coaxial gear ring is mounted rotatably on the drive spindle and is moved relative to the drive spindle between two positions. The countershaft is arranged parallel to the intermediate shaft. The driving spindle has a drilling sleeve (18) with a coupling portion, which is engaged with the coaxial gear ring. An independent claim is included for a drive machine tool, which has a drive unit.