Swing-Type Speed Reducer With Spherical Groove Ball Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swing-type speed reducers face challenges in miniaturization due to difficulties in forming annular grooves for rolling ball elements, leading to increased size and potential for noise and reduced precision.
Innovation Solution
A swing-type speed reducer design featuring an input shaft, precession body, swinging body, and output shaft with precision-machined annular precession grooves, annular swing grooves, and undulating grooves on the surface of the precession body and swinging body, respectively, allowing for smooth motion and large reduction ratios without gears, and utilizing elastic members for biasing ball elements for improved load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional gear mechanisms are used for speed reduction, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but gear backlash occurs reducing precision and creating noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gear meshing mechanism entirely, replacing it with a direct drive structure where the motor shaft connects directly to the output shaft through a magnetic coupling or direct magnetic drive, removing the source of gear backlash and noise while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear transmission system with a magnetic field-based transmission system, where magnetic forces directly transmit torque from the motor to the output without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating gear backlash and noise while improving precision
2Productivity
If gears with large ratio are used to obtain large reduction ratio, then the reduction ratio is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical motor structure where the magnetic field is generated within a compact spherical geometry, allowing for high reduction ratios to be achieved through magnetic pole arrangements and flux path design rather than through large mechanical gear trains, thereby maintaining a compact device size
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional planar gear transmission to a three-dimensional magnetic field transmission system, where torque is transmitted through spatially distributed magnetic poles and flux paths in multiple dimensions, enabling high reduction ratios within a compact volume by utilizing spatial arrangement rather than sequential gear stages
3Volume of stationary object
If gear mechanisms are used for speed reduction, then the mechanism is compact, but only a few teeth are simultaneously intermeshed reducing precision and causing shaft deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear intermeshing system with a magnetic field-based torque transmission system, where the magnetic field distributes torque uniformly across multiple magnetic poles simultaneously, eliminating the problem of limited tooth contact and shaft deflection while maintaining compact dimensions and high rotation precision
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
Enables greater miniaturization and reduced backlash, minimizing noise and improving precision by allowing for easier machining of grooves and efficient load distribution, resulting in a more compact and precise speed reduction mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
an annular precession groove that follows a locus traced between the precession body and the precession supporter when the precession body is in precessional motion is provided in the surface of the precession body facing the precession supporter, and precessional ball element that rolls through the annular precession groove is rotatably held by the precession supporter
Implementation Method 2
an annular swing groove that causes the swinging body to swing in the circumferential direction around the Z-axis and in the Z-axis direction when the precession body is in precessional motion is provided in the surface of the precession body facing the swinging body, and a ball element for swing motion that rolls through the annular swing groove is rotatably held by the surface of the swinging body facing the precession body
Implementation Method 3
a swing guide groove for guiding the swing motion of the swinging body is provided in the surface of the swinging body facing the swing motion supporter, and a swing motion guide ball element that rolls through the swing guide groove is rotatably held by the swing motion supporter
Implementation Method 4
an undulating groove formed by a plurality of continuous arc-shaped grooves for one period of the swing motion of the swinging body is provided around the entire circumference of the surface of the swinging body facing the output shaft, and output ball elements that roll through the undulating groove are rotatably held by the output shaft
Implementation Method 5
utilizing elastic members for biasing ball elements for improved load distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A swing speed reducer comprising: a main body; an input shaft that is rotatably held in the main body; a precession body that precesses; a swinging body that engages with the precession body and is swung by the precession; and an output shaft that is rotated by the swing of the swinging body; wherein a precession annular groove for precession of the precession body and a swinging annular groove for swinging the swinging body are provided on the surface of a spherical portion.