Rotational Force Transmission Mechanism With Torque Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotational force transmission devices face challenges in preventing gear damage due to excessive loads when detachable units are installed, requiring strong assembly forces and lacking effective torque limiting and buffering mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rotational force transmission device featuring a transmission mechanism with a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a coil spring that functions as both a torque limiter and a buffer, allowing the first and second interlockers to disengage under excessive load and providing rotation clearance to prevent gear damage, while sharing components to reduce parts, cost, and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the urging member is made strong to prevent gear damage under excessive load, then torque limiting capability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to requiring large assembly forces
Solution Approach 1:
The urging member is divided into a compression spring portion and a torsion spring portion, allowing each segment to contribute differently to the overall function. The compression spring provides gradual urging force that reduces assembly impact, while the torsion spring provides the necessary torque limiting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring and torsion spring are combined into a single integrated urging member that performs both functions. This merging allows the member to provide both gentle assembly characteristics and strong torque limiting in one component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (urging member, gears, etc.) are mounted individually, then assembly flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity increases and requires large assembly forces
Solution Approach 1:
The urging member is integrated with the gear structure, with the spring portion embedded within the gear body. This reduces the number of separate components that need to be assembled and eliminates the need for large assembly forces while maintaining design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring is nested within the urging member structure, with the spring portion housed inside the gear body. This nesting arrangement reduces component count and simplifies assembly while preserving the functional independence of each element.
3Device complexity
If a single urging member provides both torque limiting and buffering functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the urging member must withstand both compression and twisting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The urging member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a compression spring portion for buffering and a torsion spring portion for torque limiting. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific load type while being part of a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The urging member's physical parameters are designed to accommodate both compression and twisting forces. The spring portions are configured with appropriate material properties and geometric parameters to withstand the combined stress conditions while maintaining reliability.
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 solution effectively prevents gear breakage during detachable unit installation and operation, simplifies assembly by unitizing the urging member, and reduces the risk of damage when the detachable unit is locked, while minimizing component count and size.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring disposed between the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the coil spring urging the second sleeve toward the ratchet member by restoring force against compression, the coil spring urging the first sleeve and the second sleeve in a direction causing disengagement of the first interlocker and the second interlocker by restoring force against twisting
Data Source
AI summary
A rotational force transmission device includes a transmission mechanism disposed on an input gear, and a ratchet member disposed on an output gear. The transmission mechanism includes a first sleeve having a first interlocker, a second sleeve having a second interlocker that engages with the first interlocker with a rotation clearance in the circumferential direction, and a coil spring disposed between the first and second sleeves. When a drive source is stopped, the second sleeve can idly rotate within the rotation clearance between the first and second interlockers. The first sleeve has a first retainer, and the second sleeve has a second retainer engaging with the first retainer in the axial direction. The first sleeve, the second sleeve, and an urging member are unitized by the engagement of the first and second retainers.