Split-Flange Centrifugal Pendulum for Low-Wear Roller Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centrifugal pendulums in motor vehicle drive trains face increased wear due to manufacturing tolerances causing roller skewing and three-point contact, which is costly and difficult to assemble, especially in flange-pendulum mass-flange configurations.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal pendulum design with a flange comprising two halves and pendulum masses arranged between them, where each pendulum mass is guided by two rollers, one on each flange half, reducing contact points to two per roller and allowing for separate production and assembly of flange halves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rollers contact components via three contact points in known centrifugal pendulums, then the structure is stable, but manufacturing tolerances cause roller misalignment and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is divided into two separate flange halves, with each roller contacting only one flange half. This segmentation reduces the contact points from three to two per roller, minimizing the impact of manufacturing tolerances and preventing roller skewing while maintaining structural stability.
2Strength
If flange is manufactured as a single piece, then structural integrity is high, but assembly complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is segmented into two flange halves that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This reduces manufacturing complexity and assembly costs while maintaining the structural integrity needed for the centrifugal pendulum function.
3Force
If rollers have three contact points, then load distribution is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tolerance sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flange into two halves and reducing contact points to two per roller, the system maintains adequate load distribution while significantly reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances. The two-contact-point design is less prone to skewing from path geometry deviations.
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 reduces wear and manufacturing costs by minimizing contact points and allowing for easier assembly, effectively damping torsional vibrations across the entire frequency range.
Implementation Method 1
The pendulum masses can oscillate along their tracks in the field of centrifugal acceleration when excited by torque fluctuations of an internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
These oscillations extract and add energy to the excitation oscillation at appropriate times, thus dampening the excitation oscillation; the centrifugal pendulum therefore acts as a damper
Implementation Method 3
Since both the natural frequency of the centrifugal pendulum oscillation and the excitation frequency are proportional to the rotational speed, the damping effect of a centrifugal pendulum can be achieved across the entire frequency range
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
A centrifugal pendulum (1) having an axis of rotation (2), at least comprising at least one flange (3) and a plurality of pendulum masses (4), wherein the pendulum masses (4) are arranged on at least one flange (3) moveably at least in a radial direction (5) relative to the axis of rotation (2) and relative the at least one flange (3); the at least one flange (3) comprises a first flange half (6) and a second flange half (7), which are arranged adjacent to one another in an axial direction (8) parallel to the axis of rotation (2), with the pendulum masses (4) being arranged in the axial direction (8) between the flange halves (6, 7); a movement of the pendulum masses (4) with respect to the at least one flange (3) is guided at least via a plurality of rollers (9, 10), with at least one of the pendulum masses (4) being guided by a first roller (9) only on the first flange half (6) and by a second roller (10) only on the second flange half (7).