Planetary Gear Locking Ring for Transmission Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive train components in electric vehicles are heavy due to large housings and mechanical fasteners, leading to energy losses and weight concerns, which hinder the operational efficiency of electric motors.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gear set with a locking ring is integrated into a transmission member, reducing size and weight by using a carrier assembly with a locking member to couple the carrier member and carrier plate, eliminating the need for separate mechanical fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional mechanical fasteners are used to join drive train components, then the connection strength and reliability are improved, but the overall weight of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element and mounting member are integrated into the carrier member and carrier plate structures, eliminating the need for separate mechanical fasteners. The locking member with locking protrusions engages with recesses in the mounting elements, creating a unified assembly that reduces component count and weight while maintaining connection integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If large housings are used to support drive train components, then the structural stability and component protection are improved, but the space occupation and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a stator housing and rotor housing that are positioned closer together, with the planetary gear set integrated between them. This segmentation allows for a more compact arrangement that reduces overall housing volume while maintaining structural stability through the integrated carrier assembly and locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier plate is arranged within the inner carrier portion of the carrier member, and the planetary gear set is nested between the stator and rotor housings. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and reduces the overall volume required for the drive train components.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used in the planetary gear set, then the manufacturing flexibility and assembly flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element is integrated into the carrier member body, and the mounting member is integrated into the carrier plate edge section. This merging of functions reduces the total number of separate parts while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through modular design of the integrated components.
Data Source
AI summary
A planetary gear set includes a carrier assembly. The carrier assembly includes a carrier member having a carrier member body that defines an inner carrier portion. The carrier member body includes a planet gear support surface and a carrier plate support member that extends substantially perpendicularly from the planet gear support surface. The carrier plate support member includes an edge portion having a mounting element. A carrier plate is arranged, at least in part, within the inner carrier portion at the edge portion. The carrier plate includes a carrier plate body having first and second opposing surfaces that define an outer edge section. The outer edge section includes a mounting member. A locking member is arranged in the mounting element and the mounting member to operatively coupling the carrier member and the carrier plate.