Steering Shaft Cover Layout for Mud-Sealed Work Vehicle Gear Cases
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Soil and muddy water can enter the gear case of work vehicles when the gear case is located below the driver's section, leading to wear and potential damage due to the rotating cover rubbing against the gear case opening.
Innovation Solution
A first cover extends between the gear case and the floor, covering the openings and surrounding area, preventing rotation and reducing the likelihood of gaps, while a second cover covers the floor opening and a drain channel directs water away from the gear case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a disk-shaped cover is joined to the steering shaft to cover the gear case opening, then soil and muddy water can be prevented from entering the gear case, but the cover rotates with the steering shaft causing wear on the cover and gear case opening
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into two distinct parts: a stationary cover portion attached to the gear case that prevents soil and water entry, and a rotating steering shaft that passes through a through-hole in the cover. This segmentation eliminates the wear problem by separating the sealing function (stationary) from the steering function (rotating), while still achieving the goal of preventing contaminants from entering the gear case.
2Device complexity
If the gear case is located below the floor of the driver's section, then the steering mechanism can be housed compactly, but soil and muddy water are likely to adhere to the gear case
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with a through-hole specifically at the location where the steering shaft passes through, creating a localized opening that maintains the overall sealing of the gear case. This allows the gear case to remain below the floor for compact housing while the cover's through-hole configuration prevents soil and water adhesion to the gear case body, addressing both the compact housing requirement and the contamination prevention need.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer peripheral portion of the cover is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the gear case opening, then the cover can effectively seal the opening, but repeated rotation causes wear and gaps to form
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is separated from the rotating function. The stationary cover portion with its through-hole provides the sealing interface with the gear case opening, while the rotating steering shaft passes through the through-hole without contacting the seal. This segmentation ensures the seal remains stationary and wear-free, maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the service life of the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes a first cover extending between and attached to a gear case and a lower face of a floor, and covering a first opening in the gear case, a second opening in the floor, and an area surrounding a steering shaft between the first opening in the gear case and the second opening in the floor while separating the first opening, the second opening, and the area from a region below the floor.