Planetary Gear Reducer Backlash Compensation for Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional planetary gear reducers for vehicular steering apparatuses suffer from inter-gear backlash, leading to rattle noise and increased manufacturing costs due to the use of additional components like load rings and spring rods, which also result in increased weight and thickness.
Innovation Solution
The integration of backlash compensation members directly onto the sun gear, planetary gear, and ring gear, which are designed to be in close contact and rotate together, reducing inter-gear backlash and noise while minimizing the overall length and weight of the gear reducer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If backlash compensation members are integrated directly onto the gears, then the structure is simplified and weight is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backlash compensation members are integrated directly onto the gear bodies (sun gear, planetary gear, and/or ring gear) by forming them as single-piece structures or permanently attached components. This merging eliminates the need for separate backlash compensation mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the backlash compensation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adjusts the physical parameters of the gear system by incorporating backlash compensation members that modify the meshing characteristics. These members change the effective clearance between gear teeth through elastic deformation or positional adjustment, allowing the system to maintain optimal meshing conditions without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on all components.
2Weight of moving object
If backlash compensation members are integrated directly onto the gears, then the weight and length are reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the backlash compensation members directly onto the gear bodies, the total number of separate components is reduced. This merging eliminates the need for additional fasteners, mounting structures, and separate compensation mechanisms, thereby reducing the overall weight and length of the gear reducer assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlash compensation function is segmented into discrete members that can be independently designed and manufactured, then integrated onto the gear bodies. This segmentation allows for specialized manufacturing processes for the compensation members themselves, while the main gear bodies can be produced using standard gear manufacturing methods, balancing overall manufacturing ease with functional requirements.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If backlash compensation members are used, then rattle noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backlash compensation members are merged with the gear bodies to form an integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate backlash compensation mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the noise reduction benefit of backlash compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlash compensation members are designed with flexible or elastic properties, allowing them to deform and absorb impacts between gear teeth. This flexibility enables effective rattle noise reduction through controlled elastic deformation, while the thin-film or shell-like structure minimizes the additional complexity introduced by the compensation members.
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 solution effectively compensates for inter-gear backlash, reduces rattle noise, and minimizes gear damage from reverse inputs, while simplifying the structure and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
backlash compensation members coupled to one or more of the sun gear (210), the planetary gear (220), and the ring gear (230) such that the backlash compensation members are rotated in a state where they are in close contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a planetary gear reducer for a vehicular steering apparatus. The planetary gear reducer includes: a sun gear, to which a steering shaft is joined; a planetary gear circumscribing the sun gear; a carrier, to which a rotary shaft of the planetary gear is joined; a ring gear, in which the planetary gear is inscribed; and backlash compensation members. The backlash compensation members are coupled to one or more of the sun gear, the planetary gear, and the ring gear such that the backlash compensation members are rotated in a state where they are in close contact with each other.