Slipper Retainer Ball Profiled Interior for Hydraulic Speed Variability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing integrated drive generators face challenges in maintaining efficient operation due to the variability in rotational speed of the input shaft, which affects the hydraulic unit's ability to provide a constant speed to the generator, leading to potential component misfitting and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A slipper retainer ball with a specific partial spherical body design, featuring a central aperture and a unique interior profiled surface, is introduced to securely engage with the wobbler of the hydraulic unit, ensuring accurate mating and operation even with varying rotational speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the input shaft rotational speed varies during engine operation, then the hydraulic unit must maintain constant speed to the generator, but component misfitting and operational inefficiencies occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidspeed variability accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The slipper retainer ball is designed with a specific spherical geometry (1.196 cm axial thickness with profiled interior surfaces at specific angles) that allows it to dynamically adapt to varying rotational speeds while maintaining proper engagement with the wobbler component, enabling the hydraulic unit to accommodate speed variations without component misfitting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention specifies precise geometric parameters for the slipper retainer ball including axial thickness of 1.196 cm, interior profiled surfaces at specific angles, and curved external surfaces, which are optimized to maintain proper mechanical engagement across varying operational conditions and rotational speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If components are designed to accurately mate and fit together, then operational efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent fit accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The slipper retainer ball is designed as a separate, discrete component with specific geometric features that interface with other hydraulic unit components, allowing it to be manufactured independently with precise controls and then assembled, which manages manufacturing complexity while ensuring accurate mating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3045720B1Slipper retainer ball for hydraulic unit
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP
  • EP3045720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3045720B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3045720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A slipper retainer ball 400 of a hydraulic unit having an aperture 402 passing through a body, the body having a flat bottom surface 408, a flat top surface 410, an external curved surface 404, and an interior profiled surface 406 that extends in an axial direction from the bottom surface to the top surface. The interior profiled surface 406 includes a first surface 412 extending parallel to the axis from the bottom surface in the axial direction, a second surface 414 extending perpendicular to the axis from the first surface and outward toward the external curved surface, a third surface 415 extending from the second surface axially at a first angle, a fourth surface 416 extending from the third surface in the axial direction, and a fifth surface 418 extending from the fourth surface to the top surface at a second angle that is skew from the axis. The axial thickness of the body is about 0.471 inches.