Grease Trap for Transmission Flange to Retain Lubricant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission systems face issues with grease lubrication, as it travels radially down the flange and interferes with the hysteresis package, affecting noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics, and current lip seal solutions require additional parts, increasing cost and reducing space.
Innovation Solution
A grease trap is integrated into the transmission system, featuring a ring-shaped design with snaps that secure to the flange using apertures, a spring-loaded portion to prevent grease from entering the hysteresis package, and a deflection mechanism to redirect grease back towards the input shaft, fabricated from spring steel and mountable via various methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lip seals are used to retain grease, then grease retention is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional parts and installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The grease trap is merged with the flange structure itself, eliminating the need for separate lip seals and retention features. The flange's radial inner surface and aperture system integrate the grease retention function directly into the existing component, reducing part count while maintaining grease containment effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lip seals are installed to prevent grease travel, then grease interference with hysteresis package is reduced, but installation time and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The flange structure provides self-contained grease retention through its radial inner surface geometry and integrated aperture system, eliminating the need for separate seal installation. The design serves its own grease containment function without requiring additional components or specialized installation procedures.
3Reliability
If lip seals are used to retain grease, then grease containment is improved, but available space for splines is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The grease trap function is merged into the flange structure, using the flange's own radial inner surface and aperture system to contain grease. This integration eliminates the need for separate seal components that would occupy spline space, maintaining full spline engagement area while achieving effective grease containment.
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
Effectively retains grease near the input shaft, preventing interference with the hysteresis package and improving NVH characteristics without the need for additional parts or increased space, thus enhancing the transmission system's performance and reducing installation time and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the grease trap includes a spring-loaded portion for pressing the grease trap against the flange for preventing grease from getting by the grease trap
Implementation Method 2
the grease may travel radially down the flange, away from the axis of rotation of the shaft and flange, due to centrifugal forces which are created by the rotation of the flange and input shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission system including a damper having a hysteresis package and a flange, wherein the flange includes a first set of splines, an input shaft having a second set of splines arranged about an interior of the input shaft, wherein the first set of splines form an engagement with the second set of splines for transferring torque between the input shaft and the flange, wherein grease is included between the first and second sets of splines for lubricating the engagement of the input shaft and the flange, and a grease trap mounted to the flange located between the input shaft and the hysteresis package for restricting the grease from traveling radially down the flange and into the hysteresis package.