Individually Phased Pawl Drive for Load-Sharing Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional multi-pawl drive mechanisms often result in excessive loading on a single pawl, leading to premature bearing failure due to mechanical inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
An individually phased pawl drive mechanism where each pawl is technically phased to distribute the load, reducing the likelihood of excessive loading on a single pawl by allowing subsequent pawls to engage in succession with sufficient drive force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple pawls are used in a multi-pawl drive mechanism, then the engagement speed is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to excessive loading on a single pawl
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is segmented into multiple independently phased pawl sets (first set and second set), each capable of independent engagement. This segmentation ensures that if one pawl engages, the others are positioned to engage subsequently, distributing the load across multiple pawls rather than concentrating it on a single pawl, thereby improving reliability while maintaining engagement speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pawls are pre-positioned in individually phased configurations before engagement occurs. The first set of pawls is phased relative to the second set, and each pawl within sets is positioned at specific angular intervals. This preliminary positioning ensures that as the pawl carrier rotates, multiple pawls are ready to engage in succession, preventing excessive loading on any single pawl and extending bearing lifespan.
2Loss of time
If pawls are placed out of phase in sets, then the engagement time is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pawl system is divided into multiple sets (first set and second set) with each set phased differently relative to the drive ring teeth. This segmentation allows the mechanism to tolerate variations in individual pawl positioning, as the phased sets provide multiple engagement opportunities, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining fast engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the angular positioning parameters of multiple pawl sets relative to each other and to the drive ring teeth. By optimizing the phase angles and angular intervals between pawls, the system achieves rapid engagement while accommodating normal manufacturing tolerances. The specific phasing parameters are designed to ensure that at least one pawl in each set will engage successfully even with minor positioning variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An individually phased pawl drive mechanism includes a plurality of pawls each including a plurality of protrusions forming at least one slot between a corresponding pairing of the plurality of protrusions; a pawl carrier member sized and configured for receipt of the plurality of pawls; a drive ring carrier member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth; wherein rotation in one direction causes a first one of the plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth to engage a first one of the plurality of pawls, the primary pawl; and wherein continued rotation is permitted if the drive force is sufficient to cause deflection of the pawl carrier member relative to the drive ring carrier member, thereby causing one or more subsequent ones of the plurality of secondary pawls each to be brought into engagement in succession with a corresponding one of the plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth.