Removable Teeter Lever and Pinion Gear Assembly for Pneumatic Door Engines

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing pneumatic differential engine systems require complete disassembly for replacing the teeter lever or pinion gear, making individual part replacement costly and labor-intensive, and limiting interchangeability between different door configurations.

Innovation Solution

A removable teeter lever/gear assembly arrangement is introduced, where the teeter lever and gear are connected to the output shaft using retention keys and retaining rings, allowing for easy disassembly and replacement without disassembling the entire engine, with adjustable keyways for adaptability to different door configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the teeter lever and pinion gear are permanently attached to the output shaft, then the structural integrity and reliability are improved, but the ease of repair and replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The teeter lever assembly is divided into separable components: the teeter lever body, the pinion gear, and the output shaft, connected through removable retention keys and retaining rings. This segmentation allows individual parts to be replaced independently while maintaining structural integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Retention keys and retaining rings serve as intermediary elements between the teeter lever/gear and the output shaft. These intermediaries transmit mechanical force and torque during operation but can be easily removed when replacement is needed, resolving the contradiction between permanent attachment and easy replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the teeter lever and pinion gear are permanently attached to the output shaft, then the manufacturing precision and angular relationship are improved, but the adaptability to different door configurations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular relationshipVSAvoidadaptability to door configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The retention keys are designed with adjustable positioning capabilities, allowing them to be relocated along the output shaft and teeter lever to accommodate different angular relationships and door configurations. This dynamic adjustability maintains manufacturing precision while enabling versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retention key system serves multiple functions: it secures the teeter lever and pinion gear to the output shaft, allows for easy replacement of individual components, and enables adaptation to different door configurations through repositioning, making the assembly universally applicable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the entire engine must be disassembled for part replacement, then the reliability of connections is improved, but the loss of time and productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The retention key and retaining ring design segments the connection system, allowing the teeter lever or pinion gear to be replaced by removing only these specific retention elements rather than disassembling the entire engine, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention keys and retaining rings are extracted as separate, easily removable components that secure the teeter lever and pinion gear. This extraction approach allows rapid removal and replacement of individual parts without affecting the rest of the engine assembly, resolving the time loss issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If the teeter lever and pinion gear are permanently attached, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidease of maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retention keys and retaining rings act as simple intermediary components that add minimal structural complexity but dramatically improve ease of maintenance. These intermediaries provide a straightforward mechanism for assembling and disassembling the teeter lever and pinion gear from the output shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retention key system is designed to be easily installed and removed by maintenance personnel without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures, enabling self-service maintenance and improving operational ease while adding minimal complexity to the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2152999B1Output shaft, teeter lever and pinion gear arrangement for pneumatic differential engine
Publication Date: 2015.06.24 WABTEC HLDG CORP
  • EP2152999B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2152999B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2152999B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A removable teeter lever and gear assembly arrangement (100) is provided for use with a pneumatic cylinder/differential engine for operating vehicle doors. The arrangement comprises a teeter lever (16), which is associated with the vehicle doors, a gear assembly (17) having a toothed portion and an output shaft (20) extending therethrough, and at least one securing member for removably securing and/or retaining the teeter lever (16) and the gear (17) on the output shaft (20). The securing member comprises at least one retention key (18a, 19a) which allows the arrangement to be easily disassembled for maintenance and/or replacement thereof.