Spline-Coupled Vehicle Drive Assembly for Backlash Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle drive apparatuses with spline engagement between rotational members experience vibrations due to explosive engine vibrations, leading to noise generation, especially as the rotational members are reduced in weight, resulting in increased backlash and noise.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastic member in a groove between the spline-engaged rotational members to provide radial elastic force, reducing backlash and noise by enhancing frictional resistance and axial positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If rotational members are reduced in weight, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but backlash between spline-engaged rotational members increases leading to more noise generation
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic member is introduced as an intermediary between the first and second rotational members. This elastic member is disposed in a groove of the second rotational member and exerts radial elastic force to press the first and second rotational members against each other, thereby reducing backlash and noise while allowing the rotational members to maintain reduced weight
2Ease of manufacture
If spline engagement portion is designed with gaps between splines, then ease of manufacture is improved, but vibrations occur due to explosive engine vibrations leading to noise
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member acts as a mediator that fills the gap between the splined portions of the first and second rotational members. It exerts radial elastic force to maintain continuous contact between the mating splines, suppressing vibrations caused by engine explosions while preserving the manufacturable gap design
3Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic member is added to reduce backlash, then noise generation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is nested within a groove formed in the second rotational member. This nesting approach integrates the elastic member into the existing structure without requiring additional external components or complex assembly procedures, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the noise reduction goal
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 elastic member effectively reduces vibrations and noise between the spline-engaged rotational members by increasing frictional resistance and ensuring proper axial positioning, thereby improving the durability and quiet operation of the vehicle drive apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member disposed in the groove so as to exert a radial elastic force between the first rotational member and the second rotational member
Implementation Method 2
The elastic member produces circumferential frictional resistance between the first peripheral surface and the second peripheral surface by the elastic force
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle drive apparatus includes: a sleeve including a first peripheral surface provided side by side with a spline; a connecting member including a groove provided side by side with a spline in spline engagement with the spline, recessed radially relative to the first peripheral surface, and including a bottom surface that serves as a second peripheral surface facing the first peripheral surface; and a tolerance ring disposed in the groove so as to exert a radial elastic force between the sleeve and the connecting member.