Elastomeric Decoupling Ring for Planetary Gear NVH Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Planetary gear sets experience vibrations and associated noise due to meshing of planet gears with the ring and sun gears, which are transmitted into the gearbox housing, leading to undesirable airborne and structure-borne noise, particularly in fixed ring gear setups, and current sound-absorbing materials increase costs and hinder heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A decoupling ring with an annular elastomeric base and radial projections is arranged circumferentially on the ring gear, interrupting vibration transfer paths and reducing metallic contact, allowing for improved noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance while maintaining heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sound-absorbing material is used to reduce noise, then noise reduction is improved, but heat dissipation is hindered and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric decoupling ring serves as an intermediary component between the ring gear and gearbox housing. It provides vibration isolation and noise reduction through its elastic properties and material damping, while simultaneously maintaining thermal conductivity for effective heat dissipation. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by introducing a specialized material that performs both noise reduction and heat management functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and properties of the connection between ring gear and housing by introducing an elastomeric material with specific viscoelastic properties. The material's damping capacity factor and loss factor are optimized to provide vibration isolation while maintaining thermal transfer capabilities, thereby changing the parameters of the connection interface to simultaneously address noise and heat dissipation requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional NVH cover is installed for noise reduction, then noise reduction is improved, but installation space increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single component: the elastomeric decoupling ring simultaneously provides vibration isolation, noise reduction, and thermal management functions. This eliminates the need for separate NVH covers and insulation materials, thereby reducing installation space and eliminating redundant costs while maintaining effective noise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric decoupling ring is designed as a multi-functional component that performs vibration isolation, noise reduction, and heat dissipation simultaneously. This universal component replaces multiple specialized components (NVH cover, insulation material, cooling system elements), reducing overall system complexity, installation space, and costs while achieving comprehensive noise and thermal management.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connection is used between ring gear and housing, then structural stability is improved, but vibration transmission and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces rigid mechanical connections with a flexible elastomeric decoupling ring. This flexible component maintains structural stability through its elastic properties while simultaneously isolating vibrations and reducing noise transmission. The elastomeric material's flexibility allows it to accommodate structural requirements while damping vibrational energy, resolving the contradiction between stability and vibration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric decoupling ring utilizes composite material properties combining elasticity, viscoelastic damping, and thermal conductivity. This composite approach allows the single component to provide structural stability through elastic support while damping vibrations through material loss factors, and maintaining thermal pathways for heat dissipation, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and vibration isolation.
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 decoupling ring effectively reduces vibrations and noise transmission, eliminates the need for additional NVH covers, conserves resources, and simplifies cooling systems, enabling a structurally simpler ring gear design.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the elasticity of the elastomer, combined with its material damping properties, the unwanted vibrations can be reduced and their transmission to the other component or further components prevented.
Implementation Method 2
Due to the elasticity of the elastomer, combined with its material damping properties, the unwanted vibrations can be reduced
Data Source
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AI summary
A decoupling ring for a planetary gear is proposed, comprising a ring-shaped elastomeric base body (4) and uniformly spaced elastomeric projections (6) extending radially (R) from the base body (4), which run parallel to a central longitudinal axis (Z) passing centrally through the decoupling ring (2), wherein the decoupling ring (2) can be arranged circumferentially on the side of a ring gear of a planetary gear.