Planetary Jaw Clamping Transmission for Self-Locking Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gripping or clamping devices with worm gears suffer from inefficiency, axial adjustment requirements, and high bearing demands due to the high axial forces involved, which complicates reliable position maintenance of the jaw element when the drive is not actuated.

Innovation Solution

The use of an inhibiting, partially inhibiting, or self-inhibiting planetary transmission in the gripping or clamping device, which ensures that the jaw element maintains its position even when the drive is not activated, while also providing higher efficiency, power transmission, compact design, and smoother operation compared to worm gear systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a worm gear is used for position maintenance, then self-inhibition is achieved, but efficiency is poor and axial forces are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition maintenanceVSAvoidefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the worm gear mechanical system with a planetary transmission system. This substitution eliminates the inherent inefficiencies of worm gears while maintaining the self-inhibition function through a different mechanical approach, thereby improving efficiency without sacrificing position maintenance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the transmission system by transitioning from a worm gear mechanism to a planetary transmission mechanism. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both high efficiency and self-inhibition, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and position maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a worm gear is used for self-inhibition, then position maintenance is achieved, but device complexity increases due to axial adjustment and bearing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition maintenanceVSAvoidaxial adjustment and bearing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the complex worm gear system with a planetary transmission system that inherently provides self-inhibition. This replacement eliminates the need for axial adjustment mechanisms and reduces bearing requirements, thereby simplifying the device structure while maintaining position maintenance functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of energy

If a planetary transmission is used instead of worm gear, then efficiency and power transmission are improved, but self-inhibition capability must be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidself-inhibition capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a one-way clutch mechanism within the planetary transmission to dynamically achieve self-inhibition. The clutch engages to prevent reverse rotation when the drive is not actuated, while allowing efficient power transmission during normal operation. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between efficiency and self-inhibition capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The one-way clutch acts as an intermediary element in the planetary transmission system. It mediates between the need for efficient power transmission and the requirement for self-inhibition, engaging only when necessary to prevent reverse rotation while remaining transparent during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Volume of moving object

If a planetary transmission is used instead of worm gear, then compact design is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompact designVSAvoidgear tooth precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The planetary transmission system serves multiple functions simultaneously: power transmission, speed reduction, and self-inhibition through the one-way clutch. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, achieving compact design while the standardized planetary gear components maintain manageable manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 inhibiting planetary transmission effectively maintains the gripping force with minimal loss, reduces pulse forces that could damage the device, and allows for a more compact and efficient design, addressing the limitations of worm gear systems.

Implementation Method 1

a load torque on the actual output, which thereby becomes the drive, can be increased up to a destructive limit without the load torque leading to a movement of the planetary transmission, in particular the input shaft. Increasing the load torque increases, among other things, the counteracting frictional forces.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250162135A1Gripping and/or clamping device with an inhibiting transmission

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 SCHUNK GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A gripping or clamping device has a base housing having at least one jaw element arranged to be movable in the base housing, and has a transmission unit. The transmission unit has an input shaft and an output shaft. The input shaft couples to a drive and the output shaft couples to the at least one jaw element. The transmission unit is designed as an inhibiting planetary transmission.