Space Curve Mesh Driving Pair for Intersecting Shaft Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive mechanisms for micro-machines face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, complex structures, and limited ability to transmit power between intersecting shafts, particularly in achieving continuous motion and large transmission ratios in a compact space.
Innovation Solution
A space curve mesh driving pair with intersecting axes of 0° to 180°, featuring driving and driven wheels with uniformly arranged tines that mesh continuously, utilizing space helical lines and conjugate central lines to ensure stable power transmission, and a polyhedral space curve mesh transmission system that simplifies structure and reduces mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional drive mechanisms (micro cylindrical gears, micro bevel gears) are used, then power transmission between intersecting shafts is achieved, but manufacturing accuracy requirements are high and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is segmented into a driving wheel with driving tines and a driven wheel with driven tines. The tines are uniformly arranged on the end face of the driving wheel and on the cylindrical surface of the driven wheel, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly, thereby reducing overall manufacturing accuracy requirements while maintaining transmission functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using traditional gear tooth profiles that require high precision machining, the invention inverts the approach by using simple tine structures that protrude from the wheels. The driving tines mesh with the driven tines through their geometric configuration rather than precision-cut teeth, significantly easing manufacturing requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If micro cylindrical gears are used for power transmission, then transmission between parallel shafts is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and cannot transmit power between perpendicularly intersecting shafts
Solution Approach 1:
The space curve mesh driving pair is designed with universal adaptability to transmit power between shafts at any intersection angle from 0° to 180°. The driving and driven wheels with their tine configurations can accommodate parallel shafts (0°), perpendicular shafts (90°), and any intermediate angles, eliminating the need for different gear types for different shaft arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional gear tooth engagement to three-dimensional space curve meshing. The tines are positioned in space such that their central lines form space helical lines, enabling engagement between wheels whose axes intersect at various angles, thus adding dimensional flexibility to the transmission mechanism.
3Power
If micro bevel gears are used for power transmission, then transmission between intersecting shafts is achieved, but great transmission ratio cannot be realized and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the driving pair by varying the number of driving tines and driven tines to achieve different transmission ratios. By adjusting these discrete parameters, a wide range of transmission ratios can be obtained without changing the basic structure or increasing manufacturing complexity, unlike micro bevel gears which require precise re-cutting for different ratios.
4Volume of moving object
If drive mechanisms are microminiaturized for small volume products, then compact size is achieved, but conventional drive mechanisms become unsuitable due to their size and power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The driving and driven wheels are designed with compact dimensions suitable for micro-machines (1 μm to 100 mm scale). The tine structures are arranged to maximize power transmission within the smallest possible volume, allowing the drive mechanism to be nested within the constrained spaces of micro-electronic and mechanical products while maintaining versatility for low-power continuous motion transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A space curve mesh driving pair and a polyhedral space curve mesh transmission are disclosed. Said space curve mesh driving pair consists of a driving wheel and a driven wheel. Axes of the driving wheel and the driven wheel are intersected at an angle of 0°˜180°, and power transmission is realized by continuous mesh between the driving tines and the driven tines; a number of driving tines are provided on said driving wheel, and a number of driven tines are provided on the driven wheel; the driving tines are uniformly arranged on an end face of a cylinder of the driving wheel, and the driven tines are uniformly arranged on the circumference of a cylindrical surface of the driven wheel. Said polyhedral space curve mesh transmission consists of an above-mentioned space curve mesh driving pair. Motion is input from an input end, and is passed through a number of pace curve mesh driving pairs to realize the speed change, then is output from one or more output ends. Wherein, the space curve mesh driving pair is the core of the transmission. The invention has the advantages of compact structure, small size, light weight, stable transmission and flexible operation, and can be widely used in micro-mechanism field.