Nested Planetary Gear Layout for Four-Shaft Power Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planetary gear devices typically have only three shafts that can be connected, limiting their application in modern vehicles where multiple power sources and braking mechanisms are required.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gear device design that allows for the connection of four or more shafts, utilizing concentric hollow shafts and integrated brake mechanisms to enable the separation and distribution of power and rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional planetary gear device with three shafts is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to modern vehicles with multiple power sources and braking mechanisms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested hollow shafts where a fourth shaft is positioned inside the third shaft, and additional shafts can be nested within previous ones. This allows multiple shafts to occupy the same spatial envelope, enabling the gear device to accommodate multiple power sources and braking mechanisms without proportionally increasing the overall device volume or structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gear device is designed with multiple shafts that can serve different functions - some for power input, others for power output, and additional shafts for braking mechanisms. This multi-functional design allows a single gear device to replace multiple separate components, enhancing adaptability to hybrid vehicles with complex powertrain requirements
2Productivity
If multiple planetary gear devices are used to achieve a large number of shift stages, then the shift stages increase, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting multiple shafts within each other, the patent enables a single planetary gear device to provide multiple independent power paths and braking points. This allows achievement of multiple shift stages without multiplying the number of separate planetary gear devices, thereby reducing overall device complexity and space requirements while maintaining high productivity in terms of available gear ratios
3Adaptability or versatility
If four or more shafts are connected in a planetary gear device, then the adaptability to power supplying and receiving devices increases, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested shaft configuration allows fourth and additional shafts to be positioned within the existing three-shaft structure. This spatial arrangement minimizes the increase in external dimensions and structural complexity while enabling connection to multiple power supplying and receiving devices, thereby enhancing adaptability without proportional structural overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gear device having four or more shafts is provided. The planetary gear device may be expanded by adding another planetary gear device to the planetary gear device in the related art, all shafts of the planetary gear device are exposed to the outside such that a brake may be easily installed, and the shafts may be divided into two groups and separated. The planetary gear device may be used for an apparatus for connecting, braking, and separating an automatic transmission, a plurality of power supplying shafts, and a plurality of power receiving shafts and used to integrate two apparatuses.