Steerable Drive Axle Non-Rotating Planetary Carrier

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steerable drive axles for tracked work vehicles suffer from cantilevered loading on gear assemblies, leading to overdesign and increased weight and cost due to the need to accommodate these loads.

Innovation Solution

A steerable drive axle design featuring a non-rotating planetary carrier supported by inboard and outboard members, which are coupled to the undercarriage support system, eliminating cantilevered loading by balancing loads across the carrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional steerable drive axle with cantilevered arrangement is used, then the drive wheel can be positioned outboard of the king pins, but the gear assembly components must be overdesigned to accommodate cantilevered loading, significantly increasing weight and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering capabilityVSAvoidgear assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional cantilevered arrangement by positioning the planetary carrier between the inboard and outboard support members, with the drive wheel located inboard of the king pins. This reversal of the spatial arrangement eliminates the cantilevered loading condition that plagues conventional designs, allowing the gear assembly components to be significantly reduced in size and weight while maintaining full steering capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces outboard support members that extend along the outboard side of the drive wheel to provide counterbalancing support. These support members, coupled to the undercarriage support system, create a balanced load distribution that counteracts the cantilevered forces, enabling the use of lighter gear assembly components without compromising structural integrity or steering performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Ease of operation

If a conventional steerable drive axle with cantilevered arrangement is used, then the drive wheel can be positioned outboard of the king pins, but the components must be overdesigned to accommodate cantilevered loading, increasing cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional cantilevered arrangement by positioning the planetary carrier between the inboard and outboard support members, with the drive wheel located inboard of the king pins. This reversal of the spatial arrangement eliminates the cantilevered loading condition that plagues conventional designs, allowing the gear assembly components to be significantly reduced in size and weight while maintaining full steering capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces outboard support members that extend along the outboard side of the drive wheel to provide counterbalancing support. These support members, coupled to the undercarriage support system, create a balanced load distribution that counteracts the cantilevered forces, enabling the use of lighter gear assembly components without compromising structural integrity or steering performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Weight of moving object

If a non-rotating planetary carrier is used to eliminate cantilevered loading, then component weight and cost are reduced, but the structural complexity of the support assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear assembly weightVSAvoidsupport assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the support function into distinct inboard and outboard support members, each with specific responsibilities. The inboard support member carries the planetary carrier, while the outboard support members provide counterbalancing support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall weight while managing complexity through functional decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable steering motion, and distribute loads to eliminate cantilevered conditions. By designing these components to perform multiple functions simultaneously, the patent reduces the need for additional specialized parts, thereby managing structural complexity while achieving weight reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10737721B2Steerable drive axle for a tracked work vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A steerable drive axle for a tracked work vehicle may generally include an axle body extending lengthwise between first and second ends and an axle support assembly pivotally coupled to one of the first end or the second end of the axle body. The axle support assembly may include an inboard support member configured to extend at least partially along an inboard side of a drive wheel of the tracked work vehicle, an outboard support member configured to extend at least partially along an outboard side of the drive wheel, and a non-rotating planetary carrier extending lengthwise between an inboard end and an outboard end. The inboard end may be coupled to the inboard support member and the outboard end may be coupled to the outboard support member. Additionally, the non-rotating planetary carrier may be configured to support a plurality of planetary gears between the inboard and outboard ends.