Slewing Unit Brake Lubrication With Segmented Housing Air Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slewing units in construction machines face challenges in securing an appropriate air volume in the housing while maintaining effective lubrication of the speed reducer and brake members without increasing the overall size of the housing.
Innovation Solution
The slewing unit design includes a piston that surrounds the rotation shaft, a housing with guide portions, and brake members that receive pressing force from the piston to brake the rotation shaft before deceleration, with lubricant supply passages ensuring lubrication to the brake members, allowing for compact design and air volume maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the housing size is increased to secure air volume for preventing lubricant leakage, then the air volume is sufficient, but the slewing unit size increases and interferes with surrounding parts
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into multiple functional zones: a lubricant storage space at the bottom, a brake member arrangement space in the middle, and an air volume space at the top. This segmentation allows each space to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire housing to be oversized, thus securing sufficient air volume while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake members are arranged in a vertical stack configuration along the height dimension of the housing, rather than spreading them out horizontally. This vertical arrangement allows multiple brake members to be accommodated in a compact footprint, freeing up horizontal space and enabling sufficient air volume to be secured in the upper portion of the housing without increasing the overall housing footprint.
2Volume of stationary object
If the housing size is reduced to avoid interference with surrounding parts, then the slewing unit is compact, but insufficient air volume causes lubricant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into multiple functional zones: a lubricant storage space at the bottom, a brake member arrangement space in the middle, and an air volume space at the top. This segmentation allows each space to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire housing to be oversized, thus securing sufficient air volume while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Reliability
If lubricant is stored up to the height of the first deceleration portion to lubricate all components, then lubrication is sufficient, but air volume is insufficient causing lubricant leakage at the breather
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into multiple functional zones: a lubricant storage space at the bottom, a brake member arrangement space in the middle, and an air volume space at the top. This segmentation allows each space to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire housing to be oversized, thus securing sufficient air volume while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
A lubricant supply passage system acts as an intermediary mechanism to deliver lubricant from the storage space to the brake members and speed reducer. This allows the lubricant level to be maintained below the first deceleration portion (preserving air volume) while ensuring all components receive adequate lubrication through the supplied lubricant.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a breather is attached at the upper portion of the housing for air intake and exhaust, then ventilation is provided, but lubricant leaks out through the breather due to insufficient air volume
Solution Approach 1:
The housing internal space is segmented into multiple functional zones: a lubricant storage space at the bottom, a brake member arrangement space in the middle, and an air volume space at the top. This segmentation allows each space to be optimized for its specific function without requiring the entire housing to be oversized, thus securing sufficient air volume while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
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
This design effectively lubricates the brake members and secures an appropriate air volume within the housing, reducing the need for increased size and optimizing the slewing unit's efficiency and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of brake members 13 and 15 which are located below the piston 11... configured to brake, by receiving pressing force from the piston 11, the rotation of the rotation shaft 71
Implementation Method 2
at least one supply passage that guides, inward in the radial direction, a lubricant that has passed through the lower space, the outer passage, and the upper outer space in this order to supply the lubricant to the plurality of brake members
Data Source
AI summary
Formed inside a housing of a slewing unit are: an upper outer space located outside a piston in the radial direction, and at least one supply passage that guides, inward in the radial direction, a lubricant that has passed through a lower space, an outer passage, and an upper outer space in this order, to the lubricant to a plurality of brake members located below the piston. The plurality of brake members are disposed above a speed reducer and receive pressing force from the piston to brake the rotation of a rotation shaft before the rotation is decelerated by the speed reducer.