Speed Reducer Lubrication via Interconnected Catch Tanks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In lubricating structures for speed reducers, when one catch tank becomes full and has no room for excess lubricating oil, it flows back to the bottom of the case, reducing the efficiency of scooping up lubricating oil due to the separation of oil passages by a partition wall.

Innovation Solution

A lubricating structure with a communication port between the first and second oil passages allows excess lubricating oil from a full catch tank to be directed to the other catch tank with available space, maintaining efficient scooping by interconnecting the first and second oil passages via a partition member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a partition wall separates the first and second oil passages to guide lubricating oil to respective catch tanks, then the lubrication system can store lubricating oil in separate tanks, but when one catch tank becomes full, scooped-up lubricating oil flows back to the bottom of the case, reducing scooping efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricating oil storage capacityVSAvoidscooping efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A communication port is introduced as an intermediary connection between the first and second oil passages. This allows lubricating oil that cannot be stored in a full catch tank to be redirected through the communication port to the other catch tank, preventing backflow to the case bottom and maintaining continuous scooping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The catch tanks are designed with multi-functionality through the communication port, allowing either tank to serve as the active storage location depending on which has available capacity. This universal access ensures that the lubrication system always has a functional storage path available, preventing efficiency loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If two separate catch tanks are provided with independent oil passages, then lubricating oil can be stored in distributed locations, but the system complexity increases due to separate passages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricating oil storage distributionVSAvoidoil passage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second oil passages are merged through the communication port, creating a unified lubricating oil guidance system. This merging reduces structural complexity while maintaining the benefits of distributed catch tank storage, as the communication port provides a simple connection point between the otherwise separate passages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If catch tanks are filled to maximum capacity, then lubricating oil storage is optimized, but excess oil flows back causing energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricating oil storage efficiencyVSAvoidstirring loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The communication port acts as an intermediary that redirects excess lubricating oil from a full catch tank to the other catch tank, preventing backflow to the case bottom. This eliminates the harmful effect of oil returning to the bottom where it would increase stirring loss, while maintaining optimal storage utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potential harm of a full catch tank (oil backflow and stirring loss) into a benefit by redirecting the excess oil through the communication port to the other catch tank. This transforms what would be a harmful condition into an opportunity for optimized oil distribution and reduced energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9897192B2Lubricating structure for speed reducer

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 AISIN SEIKI KK

AI summary

A lubricating structure for a speed reducer includes: a case; a first reduction gear pair provided inside the case; a second reduction gear pair provided inside the case; a first catch tank arranged inside the case; a second catch tank arranged inside the case; a partition member that includes a partition wall that partitions an inside of the case into a first accommodation space in which the first reduction gear pair is accommodated and a second accommodation space in which the second reduction gear pair is accommodated; a first oil passage communicating with the first accommodation space and configured to guide lubricating oil to the first catch tank; a second oil passage communicating with the second accommodation space and configured to guide lubricating oil to the second catch tank; and a communication port provided in the partition member and communicating the first oil passage with the second oil passage.