Radial Piston Engine Brake Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Radial piston engines with brakes have an excessive overall length and limited mounting options on the output flange, which restricts their compactness and versatility for mobile machines.
Innovation Solution
A radial piston engine design with a reduced axial length, featuring a brake arrangement between an inner axial housing collar and an outer axial shaft collar, incorporating tapered roller bearings for optimal support, and a one-piece output flange with a disk brake mechanism for enhanced strength and mounting flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the brake is arranged laterally next to the cylinder-piston units with the output flange axially spaced from the brake, then the brake can be effectively integrated, but the overall axial length of the engine becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The output flange is merged with the shaft collar to form an integrated structure. The shaft collar serves dual purposes: supporting the brake mechanism and providing the output flange for power transmission. This merging eliminates the need for separate axial spacing between the brake and output flange, thereby reducing the overall axial length while maintaining effective brake integration
Solution Approach 2:
The brake mechanism is nested within the space defined by the shaft collar and housing collar. The brake disks are positioned between these collars, with the output flange radially outside the shaft collar. This nesting arrangement allows the brake to be contained within the existing structural boundaries without extending the axial length
2Reliability
If the output flange is positioned axially spaced from the brake, then the brake mechanism can be accommodated, but the mounting options on the output flange are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The output flange is combined with the shaft collar to create a larger, more versatile mounting surface. This integrated structure provides both the brake accommodation function and enhanced mounting capabilities for driven devices, as the flange can be accessed from both sides and provides extensive radial mounting area
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft collar structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the brake mechanism, provides bearing mounting surfaces, and acts as the output flange for power transmission. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without requiring separate components, allowing various driven devices to be mounted while maintaining brake accommodation
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 design minimizes axial length, enhances mounting options, and improves structural strength while maintaining low production costs, making it suitable for mobile machines requiring high torque and displacement.
Implementation Method 1
two bearings - in particular tapered roller bearings - to support the output shaft in the housing
Implementation Method 2
a brake with brake disks, which are designed alternately on the housing collar side and on the shaft collar side
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A radial piston engine is disclosed with cylinder/piston units which are arranged in a star shape, a housing and an output shaft. At least sections of a brake, in particular the discs thereof, are arranged between an inner axial sleeve-like collar of the housing and an outer axial sleeve-like collar of the output shaft. An output flange, for example for fastening a wheel which is driven by the engine, is fastened to the output shaft. The output flange is fastened to the axial shaft collar radially outside the latter. The output flange can have a ring of holes which is correspondingly likewise arranged on the axial shaft collar radially outside the latter.