Drive Shaft Lubrication Insert With Piston-Jet Spline Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lubrication systems, particularly one-shot systems, are inadequate in supplying sufficient lubrication to the centerline of an accessory drive shaft and other splines within a gearbox, leading to suboptimal functionality and reduced lifespan due to insufficient lubrication of moving parts.
Innovation Solution
A lubrication system featuring an insert with a chamber and piston that rotates within the drive shaft, utilizing centrifugal force to expel lubricant as a targeted jet to splines during rotation cessation, ensuring adequate lubrication distribution to the drive shaft, accessory drive shaft, and other splines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a one-shot lubrication system is used, then the system structure is simple, but the lubricant supply to the centerline of the accessory drive shaft and splines is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system transitions from a static one-shot system to a dynamic system where the piston moves between positions to actively pump lubricant. The piston is biased toward the first position and moves to the second position when lubricant is supplied to the chamber, creating a dynamic pumping action that delivers adequate lubrication to all gear components including the centerline of the accessory drive shaft
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic pressure from the supplied lubricant to move the piston. When lubricant is supplied to the chamber, it creates pressure that moves the piston from the first to the second position, forcing lubricant through the drive shaft. This hydraulic mechanism enables effective lubricant delivery without complex mechanical pumping components
2Quantity of substance
If conventional lubrication systems are used, then the system is easy to operate, but the lubrication reaches only limited areas and not the centerline of the accessory drive shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system segments the lubricant delivery process into distinct phases: the piston moves to the second position to force lubricant through the drive shaft to reach the centerline and splines, then returns to the first position to allow chamber refilling. This segmented pumping action ensures comprehensive lubricant distribution to all required areas while maintaining simple operation through automatic cyclic operation
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 system effectively increases lubricant supply to moving parts, enhancing gearbox functionality and lifespan by ensuring consistent and targeted lubrication distribution, even to harder-to-reach areas like the centerline of the accessory drive shaft.
Implementation Method 1
an increase in supply of the fluid in the chamber causes pressure to be exerted on the surface of the piston
Implementation Method 2
the piston moves between a first position and a second position within the chamber... movement of the piston toward the first position forces the fluid out of the chamber
Implementation Method 3
the insert is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation... an increase in supply of the fluid in the chamber causes the piston to move toward the second position
Data Source
AI summary
An insert for supplying a fluid to splines of a drive shaft, the insert comprising an insert wall extending between a first end and a second end of the insert, a chamber surrounding the insert wall for storing a fluid, a piston having a surface configured to be exposed to the fluid, the piston configured to move between a first position and a second position within the chamber, and the piston biased toward the first position, and wherein an increase in supply of the fluid in the chamber causes the piston to move toward the second position and a decrease in supply of the fluid in the chamber causes the piston to move toward the first position.