earticle

영어

The starter motor for military armored vehicles was known for its reliable quality, with less than one failure reported per year. However, this changed recently when a sudden wave of failures began to occur. The main issue was the “pinion gear teeth” snapping off during operation. When these teeth break, the metal fragments scatter and damage other internal parts, causing expensive repairs and leaving the vehicles unusable. Because it is vital for the military to keep these vehicles ready for action, solving this problem became a top priority. This paper provides a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of these pinion gear failures by examining the entire system from multiple perspectives. First, we conducted a detailed analysis of the individual component, including its material properties and the manufacturing process to identify any inconsistencies. Second, the study evaluates the gear meshing conditions and structural alignment with the mating components to ensure proper power transmission. Furthermore, we analyzed the electrical characteristics of the starter motor, such as current surges during ignition, which could impose excessive stress on the gear teeth. By integrating these findings, this paper discusses the comprehensive process of identifying the failure mechanism and proposes technical improvements to prevent future occurrences.