Rotary elastic coupling with wear sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary elastic coupling (1), wherein the rotary elastic coupling (1) comprises a first coupling part (11) with an elastic body (2), wherein the elastic body (2) is arranged in the first coupling part (11) in such a way that the elastic body (2) serves for transmitting forces onto a second coupling part (12) when the first coupling part (11) and the second coupling part (12) are connected to one another. In order to improve the recognition of wear, it is proposed that the rotary elastic coupling (1) has a switching element (5), wherein the switching element (5) is arranged at least partially in a first elastic body (21) of the elastic body (2). The invention also relates to a method for producing a first elastic body (21) of such a rotary elastic coupling (1), wherein a 3D printer is used to print the first elastic body (21). The invention also relates to a method for recognizing a wear state of such a rotary elastic coupling (1), wherein a switching movement of the switching element (5) caused by wear of the elastic body (2) serves for recognizing a wear limit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a rotary flexible coupling, wherein the rotary flexible coupling includes a first coupling portion having an elastic body, wherein the elastic body is arranged in the first coupling portion such that when the first coupling portion and a second coupling portion are connected to each other, force can be transmitted to the second coupling portion through the elastic body. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for manufacturing a first elastic body for such a rotary flexible coupling. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the wear condition of such a rotary flexible coupling. Background Technology

[0002] Rotary flexible couplings use elastomers to dampen torque and compensate for misalignment of the connected rotating shafts. These couplings are also known as N-EUPEX couplings or RUPEX couplings. The elastomers used in them will wear. This can be detected by optical inspection while the coupling is stationary. Alternatively, during operation, wear can be detected using a stroboscopic sensor.

[0003] A rotary flexible coupling having two coupling portions interconnected via elastomeric components is known from DE 102007 063 519A1, wherein a circuit passes through the elastomeric components, which is damaged due to corresponding severe wear of the elastomeric components, and the damage can be detected non-contactly or by a slip ring from a fixed measuring probe disposed outside the coupling. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to improve wear detection in rotary flexible couplings.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a rotary flexible coupling and method. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims and the following description, which may represent an aspect of the invention individually or in combination. When one feature is described in combination with another feature, this is merely for the purpose of simplifying the description of the invention and in no way implies that the feature cannot constitute a further improvement of the invention even without the other feature.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a rotary flexible coupling comprising a first coupling portion having an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is arranged in the first coupling portion such that when the first coupling portion and a second coupling portion are connected to each other, force can be transmitted through the elastomer to the second coupling portion, and providing a switching element arranged in the first elastomer, wherein the switching element is electrically connected to an actively operated transmitter, wherein the transmitter is at least partially arranged in the first elastomer, particularly embedded in and / or enclosed in the first elastomer.

[0007] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a rotary flexible coupling according to the invention, wherein a first elastomer for the rotary flexible coupling is printed by 3D printing.

[0008] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for detecting the wear condition of a rotary flexible coupling according to the invention, wherein the wear limit is detected by the switching action of a switching element caused by the wear of the elastic body.

[0009] Among other things, the present invention is based on the discovery that wear detection can be improved when the switching element and the transmitter are at least partially integrated into the elastomer. In this case, the elastomer can advantageously, but not necessarily, be arranged in a circular arrangement on the first coupling section. During torque transmission in the coupling, the elastomer is subjected to almost the same load. Furthermore, it is advantageous to arrange the elastomers equidistant from each other on a circular path to distribute the load evenly across the respective coupling sections and the individual elastomers. The switching element can be designed in such a way that it can be opened or closed when the wear limit is reached. Thus, wear can be monitored both actively and passively. To transmit information about the detected wear limit from the rotating coupling, it has proven advantageous to use a transmitter designed as a radio transmitter. This transmitter can be arranged in the first elastomer, particularly embedded in and / or encapsulated within the first elastomer, and can preferably interact with a receiver arranged at other points inside or outside the coupling. In this case, the transmitter can transmit electromagnetic waves in a frequency range designed for radio signals. Alternatively or supplementarily, the wear limit can also be optically indicated by the transmitter. For this purpose, a light source, such as a lamp or LED, can be attached to the coupling, preferably externally, and illuminates or flashes, for example, when the wear limit is reached. In this case, the emitter can emit visible light. Alternatively, the color of the light source may also change as the wear limit is reached, particularly in a sudden manner. Furthermore, the emitter can be designed as a loudspeaker to acoustically indicate the wear limit. In this case, the emitter can emit audible sound waves.

[0010] Specifically, the switching element is designed to output a binary signal regarding the wear state of the elastomer, wherein the transmitter is designed to switch in response to the binary signal. The binary signal is understood as a signal having exactly two signal values ​​assigned to exactly two switching states, such as "1" and "0," or "on" and "off," or "not reached wear limit" and "reached wear limit." These exactly two switching states can be easily described via a conductor circuit connected to a battery-powered transmitter as the switching element, where the "conductor circuit closed" and "conductor circuit open" states correspond to exactly two switching states of the binary signal of the switching element. In the case of excessive wear, when the conductor circuit is broken and / or ruptured, this may cause the connected transmitter, particularly a radio transmitter, light-emitting element, and / or speaker to turn on to convey the excessive wear. The information thus transmitted, particularly digital information or digital signals, can be detected by service personnel or recorded by the receiving unit, and can provide service personnel with corresponding instructions regarding necessary maintenance work or replacement of the rotating flexible coupling.

[0011] The transmitter is specifically connected to a battery that serves as a power source and / or energy source; specifically, the transmitter and battery are embedded in a first elastomer. Because the battery provides the power source, the transmitter can operate actively and / or can actively and / or passively read the switching state of the switching element, thereby avoiding measurement techniques provided outside the coupling for detecting the switching state of the switching element and / or for contact or non-contact communication with the evaluation unit. Instead, the switching element and the battery-operated transmitter can be embedded as autonomous units within the first elastomer, and specifically, only the signal emitted by the transmitter leaves the first elastomer. The active signal path from outside the first elastomer to the switching element and / or to the transmitter for reading the switching state can be eliminated. Instead, a passive element can be located outside the coupling, activated first by a signal emitted by the transmitter, for example, waking from a dormant mode. The active element can initiate automatic measures provided for detecting excessive wear of the elastomer.

[0012] The switching element is advantageously arranged at least partially within a first elastic body of the elastomer, such that the portion of the switching element arranged within the elastomer is entirely within the elastomer before reaching a wear limit, and when the wear limit is reached, a portion of the switching element portion arranged within the elastomer becomes visible on the surface of the elastomer. This wear may be caused, for example, by wear of the elastomer. If a crack appears in the elastomer, the switching element will also respond and detect this wear.

[0013] The characteristic that the first and second coupling parts are connected to each other describes the state in which torque can be transmitted between the two coupling parts.

[0014] For example, by using TPU (elastomer), switching elements, at least partially embedded in the elastomer, can be advantageously realized by means of 3D printing. With 3D printing, the shape design of the elastomer is so flexible that a switching element or a portion thereof can be permanently introduced into the elastomer in a variety of ways, particularly permanently fixed in place relative to the elastomer.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elastomers are arranged in the first coupling portion, particularly in a circular arrangement, such that an intermediate space is formed between the elastomers. The second coupling portion of the rotating elastomer includes a cam that engages in the intermediate space when the first and second coupling portions are connected to each other. Thus, a structure with first and second coupling portions can be implemented in a simple manner, wherein the elastomers are arranged in the first coupling portion such that force can be transmitted to the second coupling portion through the elastomers when the first and second coupling portions are connected to each other. Wear detection is particularly important for this arrangement because otherwise the coupling may have excessive clearance, unacceptably affecting the function of the drive. In other words, by means of the proposed wear detection, clearance in the arrangement can be easily avoided, providing reliable drive. This type of coupling can be used in a particularly diverse manner, and wear can be easily monitored by using the proposed arrangement, thereby ensuring safe and reliable operation.

[0016] Preferably, the transmitter is disposed in a first part of the first elastomer, and the power supply is disposed in a second part of the first elastomer, the second part being separated from the first part by an intermediate space. The first and second parts are interconnected via an elastomer web of the first elastomer, and the transmitter and power supply are electrically connected via wiring embedded in the elastomer web. Specifically, a switching element is disposed in the first and / or second parts, and this switching element can be electrically connected to an adjacent transmitter or power supply disposed in the same part. This allows for the distribution of electrically connected components, such as transmitters, power supplies, and / or evaluation units, that are different from the switching element in the first part, separated from each other by intermediate spaces within the respective parts. Therefore, components can be easily positioned sufficiently far within the component body, where damage due to wear can be reliably avoided. Conversely, it can be ensured that, in the event of wear, the switching state of the switching element must be changed before other electrically connected components may be damaged. Therefore, high functional reliability can be achieved for wear monitoring of the elastomer with relatively small installation space requirements.

[0017] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transmitter includes a radio transmitter through which signals regarding the wear condition of the rotating flexible coupling can be transmitted. The radio transmitter is a cost-effective component, enabling non-contact transmission of information about wear from within the rotating flexible coupling, particularly from within the elastomer, to a receiver disposed outside the coupling. For example, the receiver can be part of a condition monitoring system that detects the condition of the system, drive, or coupling and / or detects and / or plans maintenance actions. Power can be provided in a simple manner via an energy storage system. Given the lower energy requirements of passive monitoring compared to active monitoring, the energy storage device can be implemented using batteries, accumulators, or capacitors, particularly double-layer capacitors.

[0018] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transmitter includes a light source, wherein signals regarding the wear condition of the rotating flexible coupling can be transmitted by means of the light source. A light source is a particularly simple choice for indicating the wear condition, especially indicating the attainment of the wear limit. This eliminates currently common and complex measures, such as disassembling the coupling or using a strobe sensor. Furthermore, the use of a light source is particularly simple, and the application requires very little electrical energy, thus being particularly energy-efficient. The attainment of the wear limit can be detected in a simple manner during the operation of the coupling, i.e., during the rotation of the coupling.

[0019] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the switching element is entirely arranged within the first elastomer. In this embodiment, the switching element can be easily formed by a coil inside the elastomer. Wear leads to abrasion or cracking on the surface of the elastomer. When the wear limit is reached, at least a section of the coil appears on the surface of the first elastomer. Due to further wear, the coil is now interrupted, at least in a portion of the coil. This interruption (i.e., open circuit) is detectable. Here, periodic, particularly every few hours, interruption monitoring to maintain low energy consumption has proven advantageous. Between periodic monitoring runs, the monitoring device performing the monitoring is placed in a sleep mode to minimize the strain on the power supply and maintain low energy consumption. Thus, a small power source can be implemented, for example, in the form of a battery or capacitor, particularly a double-layer capacitor. Since energy consumption monitoring is usually performed even in the absence of wear, this monitoring is also referred to as active monitoring. The advantage of this monitoring is that it actively detects the state before the wear limit is reached within periodic time intervals. However, the transmitter must only be activated if the wear limit is detected. In the scope of coupling component monitoring, such as condition monitoring, transmitting information about the absence of a wear limit by means of a radio transmitter has proven advantageous.

[0020] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, when the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are connected to each other, at least one first cam in the cam is arranged adjacent to the first elastomer, wherein at least one surface of the first cam is conductive, and two contacts of a switching element arranged in the first elastomer are arranged in the first elastomer such that, in the presence of a defined wear state, the contacts are conductively connected to each other via the first cam. In this embodiment, the coil is part of the switching element. In this case, it is sufficient if the surface of the first cam is conductive. The cam connects the two contacts in the elastomer to the monitoring device. Once the elastomer reaches its wear limit, the contacts are located on the surface of the elastomer. The two contacts are conductively connected to each other via their conductive adjacency to the cam, thus the monitoring device detects a short circuit. In this embodiment, this state can also advantageously be transmitted to the receiving unit using a radio transmitter. In this embodiment, the wear limit is detected by a short circuit. The advantage of doing so is that, since there is no current flowing during operation, i.e., before the wear limit is reached, no energy is consumed for monitoring. This monitoring is also called passive monitoring because, during operation, no current or energy is consumed, thus before the wear limit is reached. This elastomer can also be produced in a simple way during the 3D printing process, with the advantages mentioned above.

[0021] The monitoring device can be simultaneously arranged within the elastomer. In this case, a conductive cam is used to connect the contact points, thereby short-circuiting them. Alternatively, the monitoring device can be arranged outside the elastomer in a rotary flexible coupling. In this case, the conductive cam also has a conductive surface. The first cam has two mutually insulated conductive surface portions, each of which is conductive. By contacting a coil in the elastomer, particularly through a contact point located in the elastomer, a short circuit is created between the two surface portions when the wear limit is reached. This short circuit can be detected by a monitoring device arranged outside the elastomer and connected to the surface portion of the first cam. The wear limit is reliably detected by detecting the short circuit. Both alternatives represent passive monitoring, where monitoring consumes no electrical energy, or at least very little, before the wear limit is reached. For example, the size of the power supply in the form of an energy storage device can be particularly small.

[0022] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the switching element is introduced into the interior of a first elastomer by means of 3D printing using a conductive material. In this case, the switching element or a portion of the switching element disposed within the elastomer is also at least partially printed into the interior of the elastomer by 3D printing. This results in the switching element or a portion of the switching element being securely disposed within the elastomer. Therefore, the switching element is fixedly disposed in place but cannot slide. Thus, wear indication is constrained only by low tolerances, and the defined degree of wear can be reliably detected and reported. The printing of the switching element or a portion of the switching element within the elastomer is performed using a conductive material via 3D printing. The position of the coil can thus be precisely disposed within the elastomer with very small tolerances. This results in particularly accurate and reliable wear monitoring. Premature detection due to the safety factor of tolerances, which would lead to an excessively short service life of the elastomer or excessively short maintenance intervals, is avoided. Monitoring with low detection tolerances can be achieved using the proposed embodiment. Therefore, the existing maintenance intervals of the rotary flexible coupling are extended and optimally utilized.

[0023] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, openings and / or cavities for inserting contacts are introduced within the first elastomer using 3D printing technology. In this case, the openings and / or cavities for inserting contacts into the elastomer can be achieved through 3D printing, thereby placing these contacts within the elastomer. In the final state of the first elastomer, these openings are accessible, allowing the introduction of contacts. The printing process can also be interrupted for contact insertion, and printing can continue after insertion. The contacts then reside within the elastomer as cavities, no longer accessible from the outside. By attaching the contacts to the cavities of the elastomer, the contacts can be protected from external influences. Alternatively, the contacts can also be printed using 3D printing technology. Furthermore, due to the flexible shaping of the openings or cavities, the contacts can be fixed in position, particularly clamped, permanently positioned within the elastomer without further fastening means, and without any fastening means during coupling rotation, thus eliminating the need for fastening. For example, the contacts can be pressed into the openings. Printing the contacts also allows them to be permanently and securely fixed within the first elastomer.

[0024] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, an additional opening and / or cavity for inserting a power source or transmitter (especially a radio transmitter) is introduced within the first elastomer using 3D printing technology. The introduction of other components, such as power sources and / or transmitters, particularly radio transmitters, can also utilize openings and / or cavities shaped to permanently secure these components within the elastomer for rotational operation. For example, these components can also be pressed or clamped into the openings. In particular, the openings can be designed so that, during coupling operation, centrifugal force holds the power source and / or radio transmitter within the elastomer. In this embodiment, the cavity containing the power source and / or transmitter can also be formed in such a manner that 3D printing is interrupted to insert these components. As 3D printing continues, the cavity is closed, and the power source and transmitter are securely arranged within the first elastomer.

[0025] Specifically, wear status is transmitted via radio signals and / or visible light and / or audible sound. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The present invention will now be described and illustrated in more detail based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. In the figures:

[0027] Figure 1 A rotary flexible coupling is shown;

[0028] Figures 2 to 4 An exemplary embodiment of the first elastomer is shown, and

[0029] Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the second coupling section is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 A rotary flexible coupling 1 is shown. This includes a first coupling portion 11 and a second coupling portion 12. The rotary flexible coupling 1 is separated in the figure, and in this state, torque cannot be transmitted between the two coupling portions 11, 12. The first coupling portion 11 includes an elastic body 2, for example, the elastic body 2 is arranged circularly within the first coupling portion 11. An intermediate space 4 is created between the elastic bodies.

[0031] The second coupling section 12 includes cams 3. When the rotary flexible coupling 1 is in the connected state, these cams 3 engage in the intermediate space 4 of the first coupling section 11. In the connected state, the rotary flexible coupling 1 can transmit torque between the two coupling sections 11 and 12.

[0032] The wear of elastomer 2 can be monitored by the proposed arrangement, which is described in more detail in the figure below.

[0033] Figure 2 A first exemplary embodiment of the first elastic body 21 in the elastic body 2 is shown, wherein a corresponding wear monitoring device is arranged. To avoid repetition, refer to... Figure 1 The description and reference numerals introduced therein are as follows. The first elastic body 21 includes a switching element 5, which may be, for example, a coil 23. The coil 23 is connected to a monitoring device 9. The monitoring device 9 monitors wear. For this purpose, the monitoring device 9 is connected to a power source 6. Through this connection, the monitoring device 9 obtains electrical energy from the power source 6, for example, electrical energy provided by an energy storage device such as a battery, accumulator, or capacitor (especially a double-layer capacitor). If the monitoring device 9 detects a wear limit, it can transmit this information via a radio transmitter 7. Alternatively or additionally, the wear limit can also be reported by a light source (not shown). The radio signal is then received and evaluated by a receiver (not shown here) outside the rotating elastic coupling 1. Due to the operation of the rotating elastic coupling 1, wear occurs at the elastic body 2 and therefore also at the first elastic body 21. Due to surface wear or crack formation at the surface of the first elastic body 21, the coil 23 appears at that surface. Further wear will cause the coil 23 to break. At this time, the monitoring device 9 connected to the coil 23 detects an open circuit and concludes that a wear limit exists. The advantage of this monitoring or corresponding monitoring method is that it reliably detects the wear of the elastic body 2 (even when the coupling 1 is stationary) when the cam 3 is not in contact with the first elastic body 21, and reports the wear of the elastic body 2. The monitoring device 9 can communicate this status via a radio transmitter 7 or a light source (not shown here).

[0034] Figure 3 Another exemplary embodiment of the first elastomer 21 is shown. To avoid repetition, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The description and the reference numerals introduced therein. Alternatives Figure 2 In this exemplary embodiment, only a portion 41 of the switching element 5 is arranged inside the first elastomer 21. These include contacts 8 connected to the monitoring device 9. As described above, these contacts also appear on the surface of the first elastomer 21 when the wear limit is reached. In this case, the two contacts 8 are electrically connected to each other via the first cam 31 of the cam 3 of the second coupling portion 12. A short circuit of the switching element 5 formed by the portion 41 of the switching element 5 and the first cam 31 is detected by the monitoring device 9, which can then transmit this status via a radio transmitter 7 or a light source.

[0035] Figure 4 Another exemplary embodiment of the first elastomer 21 is shown. To avoid repetition, refer to... Figures 1 to 3The description and the reference numerals introduced therein are shown. The monitoring device 9 and the radio transmitter 7 are arranged outside the first elastic body 21. Thus, the power supply 6 is not required within the first elastic body 21. Due to reaching the wear limit, the contact 8 reappears on the surface of the first elastic body 21 and thus contacts the first cam 31. The first cam 31 again includes a conductive surface. This surface is divided here into at least two conductive surface portions that are electrically insulated from each other. However, these two surface portions are electrically connected to each other via the contact 8, thus creating a short circuit between the surface portions. The monitoring device 9 detects this short circuit and can then transmit this status via the radio transmitter 7.

[0036] According to Figure 2 In some embodiments, the monitoring device 9 and / or the radio transmitter 7 may also be arranged outside the first elastomer 21.

[0037] Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the second coupling portion 12 is shown. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of the preceding figures and the reference numerals introduced therein. The second coupling portion 12 includes a cam 3 that engages in the intermediate space 4 of the first coupling portion 11 when the rotatable elastic coupling 1 is engaged. In this figure, in addition to the cam 3, a first cam 31 can also be seen, its surface coated with a conductive material to electrically connect the contacts 8 of the first elastic body 21 or detect short circuits across the contacts 8. Alternatively, the first cam 31 may include or even be constructed of a conductive material.

[0038] In summary, the present invention relates to a rotary flexible coupling comprising a first coupling portion having an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is arranged in the first coupling portion such that when the first coupling portion and a second coupling portion are connected to each other, force can be transmitted through the elastomer to the second coupling portion. To improve wear detection, the rotary flexible coupling is proposed to include a switching element, wherein the switching element is at least partially arranged in the first elastomer of the elastomer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing the first elastomer for such a rotary flexible coupling, wherein the first elastomer is printed using 3D printing technology. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the wear condition of such a rotary flexible coupling, wherein the wear limit is detected by the switching action of the switching element.

Claims

1. A rotary flexible coupling (1) comprising a first coupling portion (11) having an elastic body (2), wherein the elastic body (2) is arranged in the first coupling portion (11) such that when the first coupling portion (11) and a second coupling portion (12) are connected to each other, force can be transmitted through the elastic body (2) to the second coupling portion (12), and a switching element (5) disposed in the first elastic body (21) is provided. Its features are, The switching element (5) is electrically connected to an actively operated transmitter, wherein the transmitter is at least partially disposed in the first elastomer (21) of the elastomer (2) to transmit the detected wear state of the elastomer (2), and The switching element (5) is connected to a monitoring device (9) for monitoring the wear, and the switching element is completely arranged in the first elastic body of the elastic body such that before the wear limit is reached, the portion of the switching element arranged in the first elastic body is completely inside the first elastic body, and when the wear limit is reached, a portion of the portion of the switching element arranged in the first elastic body is exposed on the surface of the first elastic body, further wear causes the switching element to break, and the monitoring device (9) actively detects the open circuit caused by the break of the switching element and determines that there is a wear limit.

2. The rotary elastic coupling (1) according to claim 1, wherein the switching element (5) is designed to output a binary signal relating to the wear state of the elastic body, wherein the transmitter is designed to switch in response to the binary signal.

3. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The elastic body (2) is arranged in the first coupling portion (11) in such a way that an intermediate space (4) is formed between the elastic bodies (2), wherein the second coupling portion (12) of the rotary elastic coupling (1) includes a cam (3), wherein the cam (3) engages in the intermediate space (4) when the first coupling portion (11) and the second coupling portion (12) are connected to each other.

4. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to claim 3, wherein, The elastomer (2) is arranged in a circular manner in the first coupling portion (11).

5. The rotary elastic coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitter is connected to a battery as a power source (6), wherein the transmitter and the battery are embedded in the first elastic body (21).

6. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter is disposed in a first part of the first elastic body (21) and the power source (6) is disposed in a second part of the first elastic body (21), the second part being spaced apart from the first part via an intermediate space (4) formed between the elastic bodies (2), wherein the first part and the second part are interconnected via the elastic body web of the first elastic body (21), and the transmitter and the power source (6) are electrically interconnected via lines embedded in the elastic body web.

7. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitter comprises a radio transmitter (7), wherein a signal relating to the wear condition of the rotary flexible coupling (1) can be transmitted via the radio transmitter (7).

8. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitter includes a light source, wherein a signal regarding the wear condition of the rotary flexible coupling (1) can be transmitted through the light source.

9. The rotary flexible coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The switching element (5) and / or the transmitter are completely arranged in the first elastomer (21).

10. A method for manufacturing a rotary flexible coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a first elastic body (21) for the rotary flexible coupling (1) is printed by 3D printing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the switching element (5) is introduced into the interior of the first elastomer (21) by 3D printing using a conductive material.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein additional openings and / or additional cavities for inserting the power source (6) or the transmitter are introduced into the interior of the first elastomer (21) by 3D printing.

13. A method for detecting the wear condition of a rotary flexible coupling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wear limit is detected by the switching action of the switching element (5) caused by the wear of the elastic body (2).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wear condition is transmitted via radio signals and / or visible light and / or audible sound.

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