Serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device of serpentine spring coupling and detection method thereof

By designing a serpentine spring coupling testing device with adjustable tooth spacing and resistance adjustment, the problems of scratching and stress concentration in the fatigue testing fixtures of serpentine springs in the prior art have been solved, and the accurate detection of fatigue torque of serpentine springs has been achieved.

CN120948017AActive Publication Date: 2025-11-14JIANGSU SUODA HEAVY IND CO LTD
View PDF 7 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511238624.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-09-01
Publication Date
2025-11-14
Estimated Expiration
2045-09-01

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing fatigue testing fixtures for serpentine springs are prone to scratching or bumping the serpentine springs during installation, resulting in initial damage and affecting the accuracy of the test results. Furthermore, uneven clamping force leads to stress concentration, which fails to accurately reflect the fatigue torque of the spring.

Method used

A fatigue torque testing device for serpentine springs in serpentine spring couplings was designed. It adopts an adjustable tooth spacing telescopic testing mechanism and a resistance adjustment mechanism. The serpentine spring is simplified to install and disassemble by contracting and expanding the tooth, and the support force of each tooth on the serpentine spring is uniform, avoiding stress concentration.

Benefits of technology

It simplifies the installation process of serpentine springs, ensures the accuracy of test results, avoids scratches or deformation, guarantees the reliability and comprehensiveness of test results, and can reflect the true fatigue performance of spring materials.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN120948017A_ABST
    Figure CN120948017A_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of fatigue torque detection, in particular to a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device of a serpentine spring coupler and a detection method thereof.The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device comprises a workbench and a supporting column fixed to the workbench, a top plate is arranged at the end of the supporting column, and a movable plate slides in the axial direction of the supporting column; the first rotating rod is rotationally installed on the workbench, a second rotating rod coaxial with the first rotating rod is rotationally installed on the movable plate, and a torque sensor is installed on the second rotating rod; the telescopic testing mechanisms are symmetrically arranged and connected with the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod, clamping teeth which are circumferentially distributed at equal intervals are connected to the telescopic testing mechanisms, a tooth groove is formed between every two adjacent clamping teeth, and regulation and control mechanisms connected with the telescopic testing mechanisms are further arranged on the workbench and the movable plate correspondingly. Through the cooperation of the telescopic test mechanism and the regulation and control mechanism, the distance between the latches can be adjusted so as to ensure that the latches can be smoothly inserted between the serpentine springs.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fatigue torque testing technology, specifically to a fatigue torque testing device and method for a serpentine spring coupling. Background Technology

[0002] A serpentine spring typically refers to a steel spring wound in a serpentine pattern, commonly used in couplings to transmit torque and compensate for radial, angular, and axial misalignments. The core purpose of fatigue testing is to evaluate its durability and reliability under long-term alternating loads.

[0003] The fatigue test of serpentine springs is mainly divided into torsional fatigue, bending fatigue, and combined fatigue. As for torsional fatigue, it is mainly used to test the torque force transmitted by the coupling during actual operation. After supporting the serpentine spring with a clamp simulating the coupling, a continuous torque test is performed to detect whether the product can operate safely and reliably within the expected torque force.

[0004] Existing test fixtures are typically fixed-toothed, requiring manual alignment and pressing of each "wave" of the serpentine spring into the fixture's fixed toothed slots during installation. However, during this process, the serpentine spring may be scratched, bumped, or even undergo slight plastic deformation. This initial damage can directly become the initiation point of fatigue cracks, leading to distorted test data. If a "two-part" fixture is used, it may not be possible to ensure that all teeth exert a completely uniform clamping force on the spring when tightening the bolts. Some waves may be clamped too tightly, while others may be too loose. This can cause the points of excessive clamping to become additional stress concentration points, where fatigue cracks will preferentially start, rather than from the weakest link in the spring design, thus failing to accurately reflect the spring's fatigue torque. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device and method for serpentine spring couplings, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A device for detecting the fatigue torque of a serpentine spring in a serpentine spring coupling includes: A workbench and a support column fixed on the workbench, with a top plate at the end of the support column and a movable plate that slides axially along the support column; Also includes: A first rotating rod is rotatably mounted on the workbench, and a second rotating rod coaxially mounted on the movable plate is rotatably mounted on the movable plate. A torque sensor for detecting the torque of the serpentine spring is mounted on the second rotating rod. The telescopic testing mechanism is symmetrically arranged and connected to the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod. The telescopic testing mechanism is connected with circumferentially distributed locking teeth, and a tooth groove is formed between two adjacent locking teeth. The worktable and the movable plate are respectively provided with adjustment mechanisms connected to the telescopic testing mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can adjust the spacing between the locking teeth through the telescopic testing mechanism so as to perform a limiting action on the serpentine spring through the tooth groove.

[0007] As a further aspect of the present invention: the telescopic testing mechanism includes two support disks respectively fixed to the ends of the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod, and the support disks have a plurality of sliding grooves distributed equidistantly in a circular pattern. It also includes a sliding assembly and a driven assembly disposed on the worktable and the movable plate and connected to the slide rail.

[0008] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the sliding component includes a sliding block slidably installed in the sliding groove, and a receiving plate and a limiting post are respectively provided on both sides of the sliding block, and the receiving plate is fixedly connected to the locking tooth.

[0009] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the driven component includes two rotating sleeves respectively rotatably mounted on the worktable and the movable plate, the ends of the rotating sleeves are provided with rotating disks, and the rotating disks are formed with inclined grooves that slide and engage with the limiting post.

[0010] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the control mechanism includes two sets of first cylinders respectively fixed on the workbench and the movable plate, the telescopic end of the first cylinder is provided with a push plate, and a movable sleeve that slides along the axial direction of the rotating sleeve is rotatably mounted on the push plate.

[0011] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the control mechanism further includes spiral grooves respectively formed on the outer circumferential walls of the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod, the outer circumferential wall of the rotating sleeve is formed with a straight groove, and the inner wall of the movable sleeve is provided with a limiting block that penetrates the straight groove and slides into the spiral groove.

[0012] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the movable plate is also provided with a resistance adjustment mechanism connected to the second rotating rod for adjusting the rotation resistance of the second rotating rod. The resistance adjustment mechanism includes guide columns fixed on the movable plate and arranged symmetrically, and a fixing plate is provided at the end of the guide column.

[0013] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the resistance adjustment mechanism further includes a second cylinder fixed on the fixed plate, the telescopic end of the second cylinder is provided with a support plate that slides along the axial direction of the guide column, and a friction component is provided on the guide column.

[0014] As a further embodiment of the present invention: the friction assembly includes a first friction disk fixed to one end of the second rotating rod away from the first rotating rod, a second friction disk that is axially slidable on the guide post and abuts against the first friction disk, and a spring is sleeved on the guide post, with the two ends of the spring abutting against the second friction disk and the support plate respectively.

[0015] A method for detecting the fatigue torque of a serpentine spring in a serpentine spring coupling includes the following steps: Step 1: The telescopic testing mechanism is moved by the control mechanism to minimize the distance between multiple teeth, so as to minimize the tooth groove size; Step 2: Place the serpentine spring to be tested outside the clasp that engages with the first rotating rod, and control the movable plate to move towards the support so that the clasp that engages with the second rotating rod is also located inside the serpentine spring; Step 3: Adjust the operation of the control mechanism and control multiple locking teeth to move in a direction away from each other through the telescopic test mechanism, so that the size of the tooth groove increases and the locking teeth are inserted between the serpentine springs; Step 4: The first rotating rod rotates, and the telescopic testing mechanism controls the clasp to rotate around the first rotating rod. The clasp is driven by a serpentine spring and controls the second rotating rod to rotate synchronously. Step 5: Adjust the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod through the resistance adjustment mechanism to detect the fatigue torque of the serpentine spring.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention simplifies the entire installation process of the serpentine spring by controlling the contraction and expansion of the locking teeth. After testing, the serpentine spring can be disassembled simply by controlling the locking teeth to return to the contracted state. Furthermore, since the locking teeth expand synchronously at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, it ensures that the supporting force of each locking tooth and the receiving plate on the serpentine spring is exactly the same. Therefore, during subsequent testing, the serpentine spring will not break due to stress concentration caused by deviations in the support of the locking teeth, thus preventing inaccurate test results.

[0017] During the tooth insertion process, the final size of the tooth groove must be slightly larger than the thickness of the serpentine spring. Therefore, when the tooth unfolds and enters the space of the serpentine spring's bending area, the tooth will not make hard contact with the spring itself. This avoids potential scratches or deformation that might occur when forcibly pressing the serpentine spring into the tooth groove, eliminating the possibility of fatigue crack initiation due to installation damage. Subsequent test results ensure that the final result reflects the fatigue performance of the spring material itself and the design, thus guaranteeing the accuracy of the test results.

[0018] By adjusting the friction between the second friction disc and the first friction disc, the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod can be changed, thereby continuously adjusting the transmission torque of the serpentine spring. This makes the test results more comprehensive, allowing for the detection of the maximum torque and yield fatigue of the serpentine spring. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling at another angle in one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between the telescopic testing mechanism and part of the control mechanism in one embodiment of the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for serpentine spring couplings.

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Another structural diagram from a different angle.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of part of the extension and contraction testing mechanism and part of the control mechanism in one embodiment of the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for serpentine spring couplings.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between a portion of the telescopic testing mechanism, a portion of the control mechanism, and a portion of the resistance adjustment mechanism in one embodiment of a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second rotating rod and the resistance adjustment mechanism in one embodiment of the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling.

[0027] Figure 9 This is an exploded structural diagram of part of the telescopic testing mechanism in one embodiment of a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for serpentine spring couplings.

[0028] Figure 10 This is an exploded structural diagram of part of the control mechanism in one embodiment of the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for serpentine spring couplings.

[0029] Figure 11 This is an exploded structural diagram of part of the resistance adjustment mechanism in one embodiment of the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for serpentine spring couplings.

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Workbench; 2. Support column; 3. Top plate; 4. Movable plate; 5. First rotating rod; 501. Spiral groove; 6. Support plate; 601. Slide groove; 7. Sliding block; 8. Receiving plate; 9. Clamping tooth; 10. Limiting column; 11. Rotating sleeve; 1101. Straight groove; 12. Rotating disk; 1201. Inclined groove; 13. Movable sleeve; 1301. Limiting block; 14. Push plate; 15. First cylinder; 16. Second rotating rod; 17. First friction disk; 18. Guide column; 19. Fixed plate; 20. Second cylinder; 21. Support plate; 22. Spring; 23. Second friction disk. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] Furthermore, elements in this invention are referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, which may be directly on the other element or may also include an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or may also include an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementations.

[0033] Please see Figures 1-11 In this embodiment of the invention, a serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling includes: The workbench 1 and the support column 2 fixed on the workbench 1 are provided with a top plate 3 at the end of the support column 2 and a movable plate 4 that slides axially on the support column 2. Also includes: A first rotating rod 5 is rotatably mounted on the workbench 1. A second rotating rod 16, coaxially arranged with the first rotating rod 5, is rotatably mounted on the movable plate 4. A torque sensor for detecting the torque of the serpentine spring is mounted on the second rotating rod 16. The telescopic testing mechanism is symmetrically arranged and connected to the first rotating rod 5 and the second rotating rod 16. The telescopic testing mechanism is connected with circumferentially distributed locking teeth 9, and a tooth groove is formed between two adjacent locking teeth 9. The worktable 1 and the movable plate 4 are also respectively provided with an adjustment mechanism connected to the telescopic testing mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can adjust the spacing between the locking teeth 9 through the telescopic testing mechanism so as to perform a limiting action on the serpentine spring through the tooth groove.

[0034] Specifically, when testing the torque of a serpentine spring, it needs to be controlled to fit onto a clamp similar to a coupling, and the test is performed through transmission. To ensure the serpentine spring can smoothly fit between the tooth slots, the distance between the locking teeth 9 needs to be minimized. Initially, under the action of the control mechanism, the distance between multiple locking teeth 9 is minimized through the telescopic testing mechanism, resulting in the smallest possible tooth slot size between adjacent locking teeth 9. At this point, the radius of the quasi-cylindrical assembly formed by the multiple locking teeth 9 is smaller than the circumferential radius of the serpentine spring. Therefore, the serpentine spring can be fitted over two sets of locking teeth 9. Simultaneously, the control mechanism operates, and the telescopic testing mechanism controls the multiple locking teeth 9 to move away from each other, causing the tooth slot size to continuously increase. The locking teeth 9 will gradually insert into the space of the serpentine spring's bending area, while the serpentine spring itself enters the tooth groove. When the locking teeth 9 are fully inserted into the space of the serpentine spring's bending area, the serpentine spring itself is also fully entered into the tooth groove. With the cooperation of the locking teeth 9 and the tooth groove, the serpentine spring is smoothly installed on the locking teeth 9. At this time, the size of the tooth groove is slightly larger than the thickness of the serpentine spring itself, which can drive the first rotating rod 5 to rotate. And through the telescopic test mechanism, the locking teeth 9 will rotate around the first rotating rod 5. Thus, through the transmission of the serpentine spring, the locking teeth 9 that cooperate with the second rotating rod 16 will move, causing the second rotating rod 16 to rotate. At the same time, under the action of the torque sensor, the torque generated during the transmission of the serpentine spring can be detected, so as to achieve the effect of accurately detecting the torque of the serpentine spring.

[0035] Please see Figures 1-7 , Figure 9 The telescopic testing mechanism includes two support plates 6 fixed to the ends of the first rotating rod 5 and the second rotating rod 16, respectively. Multiple circumferentially distributed grooves 601 are formed on the support plates 6. It also includes a sliding assembly and a driven assembly disposed on the workbench 1 and the movable plate 4 and connected to the grooves 601. The sliding assembly includes a sliding block 7 slidably installed within the groove 601. A receiving plate 8 and a limiting post 10 are respectively disposed on both sides of the sliding block 7. The receiving plate 8 is fixedly connected to the locking tooth 9. The driven assembly includes two rotating sleeves 11 rotatably installed on the workbench 1 and the movable plate 4, respectively. A rotating disk 12 is disposed at the end of each rotating sleeve 11. An inclined groove 1201 is formed on the rotating disk 12 that slidably engages with the limiting post 10.

[0036] Please see Figures 1-4 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 10The control mechanism includes two sets of first cylinders 15 fixed on the workbench 1 and the movable plate 4 respectively. The telescopic end of the first cylinder 15 is provided with a push plate 14. A movable sleeve 13 that slides along the axial direction of the rotating sleeve 11 is rotatably mounted on the push plate 14. The control mechanism also includes spiral grooves 501 respectively formed on the outer circumference of the first rotating rod 5 and the second rotating rod 16. A straight groove 1101 is formed on the outer circumference of the rotating sleeve 11. A limiting block 1301 that penetrates the straight groove 1101 and slides into the spiral groove 501 is provided on the inner wall of the movable sleeve 13.

[0037] In detail, when performing fatigue torque testing on a serpentine spring, the serpentine spring needs to be inserted between the tooth slots. To facilitate installation, the spacing between multiple retaining teeth 9 needs to be minimized to ensure that the serpentine spring can be fitted onto the outer periphery of the retaining teeth 9 first. For this purpose, a hydraulic cylinder is provided on the top plate 3. The telescopic end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the movable plate 4. The hydraulic cylinder can adjust the height of the movable plate 4. In the initial state, under the action of the hydraulic cylinder, the movable plate 4 controls the second rotating rod 16 to be located at the end of its stroke away from the direction of the first rotating rod 5, so that the spacing between the two sets of retaining teeth 9 is maximized. The spacing between the two sets of retaining teeth 9 is greater than the axial length of the serpentine spring to be tested. Taking the locking tooth 9 that cooperates with the first rotating rod 5 as an example, under the action of the first cylinder 15, the movable sleeve 13 is located at the end of the stroke away from the rotating disk 12, so that the limiting block 1301 is located at the end of the stroke of the straight groove 1101 and the spiral groove 501 away from the rotating disk 12. At this time, the limiting post 10 limits the end of the stroke of the inclined groove 1201 near the central axis of the rotating disk 12. Under the action of the inclined groove 1201 and the limiting post 10, the sliding block 7 is located at the end of the stroke of the sliding groove 601 near the first rotating rod 5. Therefore, the sliding block 7 will control the locking tooth 9 to be located at the end of the stroke in the direction of mutual approach through the receiving plate 8. That is, the locking tooth 9 is in a contracted state, the distance between adjacent locking teeth 9 is the smallest, and the size of the formed tooth groove is also the smallest. The radius of the cylindrical assembly formed by the combination of multiple locking teeth 9 is smaller than the circumferential radius of the serpentine spring. Similarly, the locking tooth 9 that cooperates with the second rotating rod 16 is also in a contracted state. The serpentine spring to be tested can be placed around the tooth 9 that cooperates with the first rotating rod 5. At the same time, the movable plate 4 is controlled by the hydraulic cylinder to slide along the axis of the support column 2, so that the tooth 9 that cooperates with the second rotating rod 16 moves toward the worktable 1. When the two sets of tooth 9 are about to contact each other, the movable plate 4 stops moving, and the serpentine spring will be placed around the two sets of tooth 9. Subsequently, the description also uses the locking tooth 9 that cooperates with the first rotating rod 5. Under the action of the first cylinder 15, the push plate 14 is driven to move, thereby causing the movable sleeve 13 to slide along the axial direction of the rotating sleeve 11 and move towards the direction of the rotating disk 12. The movable sleeve 13 will drive the limiting block 1301 to slide along the straight groove 1101. At the same time, the limiting block 1301 is controlled to slide along the spiral groove 501. Under the action of the spiral groove 501 and the limiting block 1301, the movable sleeve 13 is rotated. Under the action of the limiting block 1301 and the straight groove 1101, the rotating sleeve 11 and the movable sleeve 13 are driven to rotate synchronously. The rotating sleeve 11 will drive the rotating disk 12 to move. Under the action of the inclined groove 1201 and the limiting post 10, the sliding block 7 is driven to slide along the sliding groove 601. Multiple sliding blocks 7 will move synchronously towards the direction of mutual separation, so as to drive the locking tooth 9 to move through the receiving plate 8. During the unfolding of the locking teeth 9, the size of the tooth groove gradually increases. When the locking teeth 9 are inserted into the space of the serpentine spring bending area, as the spacing of the locking teeth 9 gradually increases, the size of the tooth groove gradually increases until the serpentine spring is released from the receiving plate 8. At this point, the first cylinder 15 stops working. With the cooperation of the locking teeth 9 and the tooth groove, the serpentine spring is positioned and supported. During the insertion of the retaining tooth 9, the final size of the tooth groove is slightly larger than the thickness of the serpentine spring. Therefore, when the retaining tooth 9 unfolds and enters the space of the serpentine spring's bending area, it will not make hard contact with the serpentine spring itself. This avoids potential scratches or deformation that might occur when forcibly pressing the serpentine spring into the tooth groove, eliminating the possibility of fatigue crack initiation due to installation damage. Subsequent test results will ensure that the final result reflects the fatigue performance of the spring material itself and the design, thus guaranteeing the accuracy of the test results.

[0038] By controlling the contraction and expansion of the retaining teeth 9, the entire installation process of the serpentine spring can be simplified. After the test is completed, the serpentine spring can be disassembled simply by controlling the retaining teeth 9 to return to the contracted state. At the same time, since the retaining teeth 9 expand synchronously at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, it is ensured that the supporting force of each retaining tooth 9 and the receiving plate 8 on the serpentine spring is exactly the same. Therefore, in subsequent testing, the serpentine spring will not break due to stress concentration caused by the deviation of the support of the retaining teeth 9 on the serpentine spring, thus preventing inaccurate test results.

[0039] After the serpentine spring is installed, the first rotating rod 5 can be controlled to rotate, driving the support plate 6 to move. Under the action of the sliding block 7 and the receiving plate 8, the locking teeth 9 rotate. At the same time, under the action of the first cylinder 15, the position of the limiting block 1301 within the spiral groove 501 is ensured not to change. The first rotating rod 5 also controls the synchronous rotation of the movable sleeve 13 through the spiral groove 501 and the limiting block 1301. Under the action of the limiting block 1301 and the straight groove 1101, the rotating sleeve 11 and the rotating plate 12 rotate synchronously. Therefore, the limiting post 1... The position of 0 within the inclined groove 1201 remains unchanged, ensuring that the locking tooth 9 is in a locked state. Under the action of the locking tooth 9, the movement of the locking tooth 9, which cooperates with the second rotating rod 16, is controlled through the transmission of the serpentine spring, thereby driving the second rotating rod 16 to rotate. The torque sensor installed on the second rotating rod 16 will detect the torque generated by the transmission of the serpentine spring. In this way, by simulating the transmission of the serpentine spring force when the coupling is in use, the fatigue torque of the serpentine spring can be detected. The torque sensor is an application of existing technology and will not be described in detail in this application.

[0040] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 11 The movable plate 4 is also provided with a resistance adjustment mechanism connected to the second rotating rod 16 for adjusting the rotation resistance of the second rotating rod 16. The resistance adjustment mechanism includes guide columns 18 fixed on the movable plate 4 and arranged symmetrically. A fixing plate 19 is provided at the end of the guide column 18. The resistance adjustment mechanism also includes a second cylinder 20 fixed on the fixing plate 19. A support plate 21 that slides along the axial direction of the guide column 18 is provided at the telescopic end of the second cylinder 20. A friction assembly is provided on the guide column 18. The friction assembly includes a first friction disk 17 fixed on the end of the second rotating rod 16 away from the first rotating rod 5. A second friction disk 23 that slides axially on the guide column 18 and abuts against the first friction disk 17 is provided. A spring 22 is sleeved on the guide column 18. The two ends of the spring 22 abut against the second friction disk 23 and the support plate 21, respectively.

[0041] Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy of the fatigue torque detection of the serpentine spring, it is necessary to change the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16 to change the resistance of the serpentine spring to force transmission. In the initial state, under the action of the second cylinder 20, the support plate 21 is located at the end of its stroke towards the moving plate 4, so that the distance between the support plate 21 and the second friction disc 23 is the largest. At this time, the second friction disc 23 and the first friction disc 17 are in contact. The elongation of the spring 22 in its natural state is greater than the maximum distance between the support plate 21 and the second friction disc 23. Therefore, the spring 22 is in a pre-compressed state and always provides the second friction disc 23 with a thrust towards the first friction disc 17. In this state, the friction between the second friction disc 23 and the first friction disc 17 is the smallest, that is, the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16 is the smallest. When the first rotating rod 5 rotates, the serpentine spring will overcome the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16 and drive the second rotating rod 16 to rotate synchronously with the first rotating rod 5. At this time, the torque sensor can detect the torque of the serpentine spring under the rotational resistance state. After the first rotating rod 5 rotates a certain number of times according to the test requirements, the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16 can be adjusted. Under the action of the second cylinder 20, the support plate 21 is driven to move towards the first friction disk 17, thereby compressing the spring 22. When the spring 22 is compressed, the thrust provided to the second friction disk 23 increases. As a result, the friction between the second friction disk 23 and the first friction disk 17 increases, which increases the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16. Therefore, the serpentine spring needs a larger torque to drive the second rotating rod 16 to rotate synchronously with the first rotating rod 5. The torque sensor can detect the torque change of the serpentine spring again. By repeating the above steps, the serpentine spring will crack or completely break. In this way, the maximum torque of the serpentine spring and the yield fatigue of the serpentine spring can be detected. During the test, the first friction disk 17 and the second friction disk 23 can be cooled by air blowing or other cooling methods to prevent overheating.

[0042] A method for detecting the fatigue torque of a serpentine spring in a serpentine spring coupling includes the following steps: Step 1: The telescopic testing mechanism is moved by the control mechanism to minimize the distance between multiple teeth 9, so as to minimize the tooth groove size; Step 2: Place the serpentine spring to be tested outside the locking tooth 9 that mates with the first rotating rod 5, and control the movable plate 4 to move towards the bracket 1, so that the locking tooth 9 that mates with the second rotating rod 16 is also located inside the serpentine spring; Step 3: Adjust the operation of the control mechanism and control the multiple locking teeth 9 to move in a direction away from each other through the telescopic test mechanism, so that the size of the tooth groove increases and the locking teeth 9 are inserted between the serpentine springs; Step 4: The first rotating rod 5 rotates, and the telescopic test mechanism controls the clasp 9 to rotate around the first rotating rod 5. The clasp 9 is driven by a serpentine spring and controls the second rotating rod 16 to rotate synchronously. Step 5: Adjust the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod 16 through the resistance adjustment mechanism to detect the fatigue torque of the serpentine spring.

[0043] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for detecting the fatigue torque of a serpentine spring in a serpentine spring coupling, comprising: A workbench and a support column fixed on the workbench, with a top plate at the end of the support column and a movable plate that slides axially along the support column; Its characteristic is that it further includes: A first rotating rod is rotatably mounted on the workbench, and a second rotating rod coaxially mounted on the movable plate is rotatably mounted on the movable plate. A torque sensor for detecting the torque of the serpentine spring is mounted on the second rotating rod. The telescopic testing mechanism is symmetrically arranged and connected to the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod. The telescopic testing mechanism is connected with circumferentially distributed locking teeth, and a tooth groove is formed between two adjacent locking teeth. The worktable and the movable plate are respectively provided with adjustment mechanisms connected to the telescopic testing mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can adjust the spacing between the locking teeth through the telescopic testing mechanism so as to perform a limiting action on the serpentine spring through the tooth groove.

2. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic testing mechanism includes two support plates fixed to the ends of the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod, respectively, and the support plates have a plurality of grooves distributed equidistantly in a circular pattern. It also includes a sliding assembly and a driven assembly disposed on the worktable and the movable plate and connected to the slide rail.

3. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sliding assembly includes a sliding block slidably installed in the sliding groove. A receiving plate and a limiting post are respectively provided on both sides of the sliding block. The receiving plate is fixedly connected to the locking tooth.

4. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that, The driven component includes two rotating sleeves respectively rotatably mounted on the worktable and the movable plate. The rotating sleeves are provided with rotating disks at their ends, and the rotating disks are provided with inclined grooves that slide and engage with the limiting post.

5. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control mechanism includes two sets of first cylinders fixed to the workbench and the movable plate respectively. The telescopic end of the first cylinder is provided with a push plate, and a movable sleeve that slides along the axial direction of the rotating sleeve is rotatably mounted on the push plate.

6. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control mechanism further includes spiral grooves respectively formed on the outer circumference of the first rotating rod and the second rotating rod, a straight groove formed on the outer circumference of the rotating sleeve, and a limiting block provided on the inner wall of the movable sleeve that penetrates the straight groove and slides into the spiral groove.

7. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable plate is also provided with a resistance adjustment mechanism connected to the second rotating rod for adjusting the rotation resistance of the second rotating rod. The resistance adjustment mechanism includes guide columns fixed on the movable plate and arranged symmetrically, and a fixing plate is provided at the end of the guide column.

8. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 7, characterized in that, The resistance adjustment mechanism further includes a second cylinder fixed on the fixed plate. The telescopic end of the second cylinder is provided with a support plate that slides along the axial direction of the guide column. A friction assembly is provided on the guide column.

9. The serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling according to claim 8, characterized in that, The friction assembly includes a first friction disc fixed to one end of the second rotating rod away from the first rotating rod, a second friction disc that slides axially on the guide post and abuts against the first friction disc, and a spring sleeved on the guide post, with the two ends of the spring abutting against the second friction disc and the support plate, respectively.

10. A method for detecting the fatigue torque of a serpentine spring in a serpentine spring coupling, comprising the serpentine spring fatigue torque detection device for a serpentine spring coupling as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: Step 1: The telescopic testing mechanism is moved by the control mechanism to minimize the distance between multiple teeth, so as to minimize the tooth groove size; Step 2: Place the serpentine spring to be tested outside the clasp that engages with the first rotating rod, and control the movable plate to move towards the bracket so that the clasp that engages with the second rotating rod is also located inside the serpentine spring; Step 3: Adjust the operation of the control mechanism and control multiple locking teeth to move in a direction away from each other through the telescopic test mechanism, so that the size of the tooth groove increases and the locking teeth are inserted between the serpentine springs; Step 4: The first rotating rod rotates, and the telescopic testing mechanism controls the clasp to rotate around the first rotating rod. The clasp is driven by a serpentine spring and controls the second rotating rod to rotate synchronously. Step 5: Adjust the rotational resistance of the second rotating rod through the resistance adjustment mechanism to detect the fatigue torque of the serpentine spring.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Coupler fatigue test equipment

    CN120253223A

  • Torque testing device for coupler processing

    CN120507127A

  • Device for detecting torque of torsional spring and testing fatigue

    CN215339327U

  • Working table for zigzag spring coupling

    CN217143002U

  • Snakelike spring coupling finished product detection equipment

    CN220854168U