Torque Transmission Device with Sealed Lubricant Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting an internal combustion engine to a generator in vehicles, such as shaft/hub connections, are prone to wear due to misalignment, leading to reduced lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A device with a motor-side and generator-side shaft connected via a separate transmission element and a seal device that forms a joint lubricant chamber, ensuring effective lubrication and reducing wear by integrating both shaft/hub connections into a single lubricant chamber, with features like axial seal extensions, tubular shell parts, and a spring for enhanced sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shaft/hub connections are used to connect the internal combustion engine to the generator, then torque transmission is achieved, but wear occurs due to misalignment between the crankshaft and input shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate lubricant chambers into a single joint lubricant chamber that accommodates both shaft/hub connections. This allows both connections to be lubricated by the same lubricant flow, reducing wear on the connections while maintaining reliable torque transmission between the engine and generator.
2Reliability
If two separate lubricant chambers are provided for each shaft/hub connection, then each connection can be lubricated independently, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate lubricant chambers into one joint lubricant chamber that serves both shaft/hub connections. This simplification reduces device complexity and cost while still providing effective lubrication to both connections through a unified lubricant flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint lubricant chamber serves multiple functions: it lubricates both shaft/hub connections simultaneously and acts as a unified sealing volume. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate chambers while maintaining adequate lubrication for both connections.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the crankshaft and input shaft are perfectly flush with one another, then wear is minimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator approach by providing a joint lubricant chamber that compensates for misalignment between the crankshaft and input shaft. The lubricant flow in this shared chamber helps reduce wear even when perfect alignment is not achieved, thereby reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
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
The solution significantly reduces wear and simplifies the design, enabling cost savings by using a single lubricant chamber and ensuring reliable torque transmission through positive-locking torque profiles, while maintaining effective lubrication and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
The seal device seals off to the outside a lubricant chamber which lies radially outside the transmission element
Implementation Method 2
an effective lubrication of the shaft/hub connections and thus a significant reduction in wear are enabled
Implementation Method 3
The spring pushes the seal element with a force against the other shaft
Implementation Method 4
The sealing action of the sealing element can be further increased in this manner
Data Source
AI summary
A device for transmitting a torque between an internal combustion engine and a generator has a motor-side shaft, a generator-side shaft, a separate transmission element for transmitting the torque between the two shafts, and a seal device. The motor-side shaft and the generator-side shaft are situated in each case substantially coaxially with respect to one another and are in each case connected by way of a shaft-hub connection to the transmission element, wherein a lubricant chamber which is situated radially outside the transmission element and between the motor-side shaft and the generator-side shaft and which couples the two shaft-hub connections with regard to a flow of lubricant is sealed off with respect to the outside by the seal device.