A drive shaft for a circular knitting machine

Abstract

This application provides a drive shaft for a circular knitting machine, including a bearing housing with a protruding extension. A receiving groove is provided within the protruding extension, and a shaft is mounted thereon. A first bearing pad and a second bearing pad are spaced apart within the inner ring of the bearing housing. Two sets of bearing components connected to the shaft are also installed within the bearing housing. The first and second bearing pads form a liquid storage area within the receiving groove. A liquid inlet is provided on one side of the protruding extension, with a flow channel extending to the liquid storage area. The liquid inlet allows for rapid replenishment of oil within the bearing housing. A ring-shaped sealing sleeve is mounted on the first bearing pad, and a sealing barrier is formed between the inner wall of the sealing sleeve and the second bearing pad. When the shaft rotates and causes oil to splash, some oil is blocked by the first bearing pad, and the remaining portion is blocked by the sealing sleeve, thus achieving double blocking of the oil and preventing leakage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of drive shaft technology, and more particularly to a drive shaft for a circular knitting machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the transmission system of a circular knitting machine, the drive shaft is the core component that realizes power transmission and ensures the coordinated operation of various parts. Its performance directly affects the weaving quality of the fabric and the stability of the equipment operation. When the drive shaft is running, it needs to reduce the gap between the drive shaft and the bearing through lubricating oil. However, the existing drive shaft and bearing only use an interference fit to reduce the gap formed during installation. This can easily lead to the gap widening and oil leakage during long-term use. Oil leakage will lead to insufficient lubrication, resulting in vibration and speed fluctuations, and ultimately a decrease in the accuracy of the knitting needle movement. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a drive shaft for a circular knitting machine to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] The technical solution of this application is implemented as follows:

[0005] This application provides a drive shaft for a circular knitting machine, including a bearing housing, the bearing housing having a protruding extension, a receiving slot through the bearing housing is provided in the protruding extension, a shaft is movably installed in the receiving slot, a first bearing pad and a second bearing pad are provided at intervals on the inner ring of the bearing housing, two sets of bearing components are installed in the bearing housing and are respectively located on both sides of the second bearing pad, when the shaft is located in the bearing housing, the outer periphery of the shaft is connected to the inner wall of the bearing component;

[0006] The first and second support pads form a liquid storage area within the accommodating slot, and a liquid inlet is provided on one side of the protruding extension, with a flow channel extending to the liquid storage area.

[0007] A ring-shaped sealing sleeve is installed on the first bearing pad. The sealing sleeve has an inclined end and an opening through which a shaft passes. The inner wall of the opening fits against the outer circumference of the shaft. A sealing barrier is formed between the inner wall of the sealing sleeve and the second bearing pad.

[0008] The first bearing pad is provided with several overflow holes, which are spaced apart along the circumference of the first bearing pad.

[0009] A first gear and a second gear are movably mounted on the shaft, and a bearing housing is located between the first gear and the second gear.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second gear has a hub portion, and a mounting groove is provided around the top of the hub portion, in which a first sealing gasket is movably installed;

[0011] The first sealing gasket abuts against the bottom of the bearing housing, and the inner wall of the first sealing gasket fits against the shaft.

[0012] In one embodiment, the inner ring of the bearing housing is provided with a guide groove, which is located on the side of the second bearing pad away from the first bearing pad. When the bearing component is located in the bearing housing, the guide groove is located on the outside of the bearing component.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first bearing pad is provided with a slot, and the bottom of the sealing sleeve is provided with a locking block corresponding to the position of the slot. When the sealing sleeve is installed on the first bearing pad, the locking block is embedded in the slot.

[0014] In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve also has an extension portion, the inner ring of which is provided with a groove, and a second sealing gasket that fits against the shaft is provided in the groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, a first flow gap and a second flow gap are respectively formed between the first bearing pad and the second bearing pad and the shaft;

[0016] The range of the second flow gap is larger than the range of the first flow gap.

[0017] In one embodiment, a one-way valve is installed in the flow channel.

[0018] The advantages or beneficial effects of the above technical solutions include at least the following:

[0019] This application discloses a drive shaft for a circular knitting machine. When the shaft is located in a bearing housing with two sets of spaced-apart bearings and a first gear and a second gear are installed, the bearing housing has a liquid storage area composed of a first bearing pad and a second bearing pad. Liquid is replenished from the outside through an inlet port, allowing oil to fill the storage area and supply oil to the shaft. This prevents insufficient oil from causing rotational difficulties. Furthermore, a sealing sleeve with an inclined end is installed on the first bearing pad. When the shaft rotates at high speed, causing oil to splash, the sealing sleeve blocks the oil and allows it to re-enter the storage area under gravity. Some oil on the first bearing pad enters the storage area through an overflow hole, achieving oil return and circulation. The cooperation of the sealing sleeve, the first bearing pad, and the second bearing pad improves the sealing performance of the drive shaft, solving the problem of oil leakage in existing drive shafts, which leads to equipment instability and affects processing quality. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present application and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles of the present application. These drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present application and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0021] Figure 1 A cross-sectional structural diagram of the drive shaft according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 An exploded structural diagram of the drive shaft according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the bearing housing according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0024] Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional structural diagram of the sealing sleeve according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the second gear according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0026] Figure 6 Examples of this application are presented. Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0027] Reference numerals: 1. Bearing housing; 11. Protruding extension; 111. Receiving groove; 112. Liquid inlet; 12. First bearing pad; 121. Overflow hole; 122. Slot; 13. Second bearing pad; 14. Guide groove;

[0028] 2. Shaft;

[0029] 3. Bearing components;

[0030] 4. Sealing sleeve; 41. Inclined end; 42. Opening; 43. Locking block; 44. Extension; 441. Groove; 442. Second sealing gasket;

[0031] 5. First gear;

[0032] 6. Second gear; 61. Hub; 611. Mounting groove; 612. First sealing gasket. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Embodiments of this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While some embodiments of this application are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this application can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of this application. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of this application are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. This application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0035] It should be understood that the term "comprising" and its variations as used herein are open-ended, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". Definitions of other terms will be given in the following description. It should be noted that the concepts of "first", "second", etc., mentioned in this application are used only to distinguish different devices, modules, or units, and are not intended to limit the order of functions performed by these devices, modules, or units or their interdependencies.

[0036] It should be noted that the terms "a" and "several" used in this application are illustrative rather than restrictive, and those skilled in the art should understand that, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, they should be understood as "one or more".

[0037] The names of the messages or information exchanged between multiple devices in the embodiments of this application are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of these messages or information.

[0038] Reference Figures 1-6 A drive shaft for a circular knitting machine includes a bearing housing 1, which has a protruding extension 11. A receiving slot 111 penetrating the bearing housing 1 is provided within the protruding extension 11. A shaft 2 is movably installed within the receiving slot 111. The bearing housing 1 has a first bearing pad 12 and a second bearing pad 13 spaced apart on its inner ring. Both the first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13 are made of rubber with extensible deformation properties. Oil can be stored between the first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13. Two sets of bearing components 3 are installed inside the bearing housing 1 and are located on both sides of the second bearing pad 13. When the shaft 2 is located in the bearing housing 1, the outer periphery of the shaft 2 is connected to the inner wall of the bearing component 3. The bearing component 3 uses a one-way bearing as in the prior art. The two sets of bearing components 3, located on both sides of the second bearing pad 13, can disperse the radial force on the shaft 2, reduce the risk of bending deformation of the shaft 2, ensure coaxiality during high-speed operation, and reduce noise and wear caused by vibration.

[0039] The first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13 form a liquid storage area within the accommodating groove 111. A liquid inlet 112 is provided on one side of the protruding extension 11. The liquid inlet 112 has a flow channel extending to the liquid storage area. The liquid storage area can centrally store lubricating oil, avoiding waste caused by the random flow of lubricating oil in the bearing housing 1. External oil can be additionally transported to the bearing housing 1 through the liquid inlet 12, realizing rapid replenishment of lubricating oil. Lubrication maintenance can be completed without disassembling the drive shaft, reducing equipment downtime. Furthermore, the flow channel can directionally transport lubricating oil to the vicinity of the bearing component 3, ensuring that the rolling elements and inner and outer rings of the bearing component 3 are always in a fully lubricated state, reducing the coefficient of friction and extending the service life of the bearing component 3.

[0040] A ring-shaped sealing sleeve 4 is installed on the first bearing pad 12. The sealing sleeve 4 has an inclined end 41 and forms an opening 42 through which the shaft 2 passes. The inner wall of the opening 42 fits against the outer periphery of the shaft 2. A sealing barrier is formed between the inner wall of the sealing sleeve 4 and the second bearing pad 13. The inclined end 41 can block splashed oil, and the oil can flow towards the first bearing pad 12 along the angle of the inclined end 41. The tight fit between the inclined end 41 and the inner wall of the opening 42 and the shaft 2 can prevent the lubricating oil in the bearing housing 1 from leaking outward along the surface of the shaft 2. At the same time, the sealing barrier can effectively prevent external impurities such as knitted fibers, dust and lint from entering the interior of the bearing housing 1, improving the anti-contamination ability of the drive shaft and reducing the number of downtimes caused by cleaning and maintenance.

[0041] An overflow hole 121 is provided on the first bearing pad 12. Several overflow holes 121 are provided and are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the first bearing pad 12. When the lubricating oil in the storage area is excessive, the overflow hole 121 can discharge the excess lubricating oil in time, so as to avoid the excessive pressure in the bearing seat 1 from breaking the sealing structure. At the same time, the overflow hole 121 can also discharge the oil blocked by the sealing sleeve 4, realize the recycling of oil, and reduce lubrication costs.

[0042] The first gear 5 and the second gear 6 are movably mounted on the shaft 2. The bearing seat 1 is located between the first gear 5 and the second gear 6. The bearing seat 1 is located between the two gears and can provide support for the gears on both sides at the same time, dispersing the radial force and axial force generated when the gears mesh. The second gear 6 is connected to the external drive motor by meshing or belt drive. The first gear 5 meshes with the large disc gear.

[0043] Based on the above structure, by installing bearing components 3 at intervals on bearing seats 1 and allowing shaft 2 to pass through bearing seats 1, the outer periphery of shaft 2 is made to fit against the two sets of bearing seats 1. Then, the first gear 5 and the second gear 6 are respectively installed on shaft 2. When oil is added to bearing seats 1, the oil flows between the first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13 and lubricates shaft 2 and bearing components 3. The sealing sleeve 4 is installed on the first bearing pad 12. When shaft 2 rotates under the action of external drive, causing oil to splash, the first bearing pad 12 can initially block the oil, while some of the oil that passes through the first bearing pad 12 is blocked by the inclined end 41 on the sealing sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 and the first bearing pad 12 work together to block and guide the blocked oil, allowing the oil to flow along the inclined end 41 into the first bearing pad 12. The oil then flows back into the space between the first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13 through the overflow hole 121 provided in the first bearing pad 12, thus preventing oil leakage and waste. The liquid inlet 112 connected to the protruding extension 11 allows the operator to replenish the oil inside the drive shaft without disassembling it. Through the cooperation of the sealing sleeve 4 and the first bearing pad 12, the sleeve can store the oil and block splashing oil, thus solving the problem that existing drive shafts are sealed only by connection, which easily leads to oil leakage.

[0044] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 The second gear 6 has a hub 61, and the top of the hub 61 is provided with a mounting groove 611. A first sealing washer 612 is movably installed in the mounting groove 611. The first sealing washer 612 is made of a stretchable rubber material. The first sealing washer 612 abuts against the bottom of the bearing housing 1, and the inner wall of the first sealing washer 612 fits against the shaft 2. Through the cooperation of the first sealing washer 612, on the one hand, the first sealing washer 612 abuts against the bottom of the bearing housing 1, which can prevent external knitted fibers, dust and other impurities from entering the interior of the bearing housing 1 from the gap between the bearing housing 1 and the gear, and avoid impurities adhering to the surface of the bearing component 3 and affecting its rotational accuracy; on the other hand, its inner wall fits against the shaft 2, which can effectively prevent the lubricating oil in the bearing housing 1 from leaking along the surface of the shaft 2, and ensure that the bearing component 3 is always in a fully lubricated state. This double sealing design significantly improves the sealing reliability of the transmission shaft, reduces bearing wear caused by impurity intrusion or lubricating oil loss, and extends the service life of the transmission shaft.

[0045] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1-3The bearing housing 1 has an inner ring with a guide groove 14. The guide groove 14 is located on the side of the second bearing pad 13 away from the first bearing pad 12. When the bearing component 3 is located in the bearing housing 1, the guide groove 14 is located on the outside of the bearing component 3. The guide groove 14 is used to realize the directional guidance and distribution optimization of the lubricating oil. When the drive shaft is running, the high-speed rotation of the bearing component 3 will drive the surrounding lubricating oil to flow. The guide groove 14, through its own annular groove structure, can evenly guide the lubricating oil to the outer wall of the bearing component 3, ensuring that the outer ring of the bearing component 3 and the mating surface of the bearing housing 1 are fully lubricated, reducing the friction loss between them. At the same time, the guide groove 14 can guide excess lubricating oil to a preset recovery path, avoiding the accumulation of lubricating oil in the bearing housing 1 and increasing the risk of leakage, thus improving the efficiency and stability of the lubrication system.

[0046] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first bearing pad 12 is provided with a groove 122, and the bottom of the sealing sleeve 4 is provided with a locking block 43 corresponding to the groove 122. When the sealing sleeve 4 is installed on the first bearing pad 12, the locking block 43 is embedded in the groove 122, and a fitting connection is formed between the groove 122 and the locking block 43. The core function of this structure is to enhance the installation stability of the sealing sleeve 4. When the circular knitting machine is working, the drive shaft is in a high-frequency rotation state, which will generate continuous vibration. If the sealing sleeve 4 is only installed by simple contact, it is easy to loosen and shift due to vibration, resulting in sealing failure. The engagement of the locking block 43 with the groove 122 can form a mechanical lock, restricting the radial and axial displacement of the sealing sleeve 4, ensuring that the sealing sleeve 4 always maintains a tight contact with the first bearing pad 12, improving the sealing reliability of the sealing sleeve 4, reducing component fatigue wear caused by vibration, and extending the service life of the sealing assembly.

[0047] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The sealing sleeve 4 also has an extension 44, with a groove 441 on the inner ring of the extension 44. A second sealing gasket 442 that fits into the shaft 2 is placed in the groove 441. The second sealing gasket 442 is made of a stretchable rubber material. The extension 44 extends the sealing path, so that external impurities have to travel a longer distance to enter the bearing area. The tight fit between the second sealing gasket 442 and the shaft 2 adds a second radial sealing barrier on the basis of the first sealing layer. Its function is to further improve the overall sealing level. On the one hand, it can prevent fine dust, yarn debris, etc. from entering through the gap between the shaft 2 and the sealing sleeve 4. On the other hand, it can intercept a small amount of lubricating oil that may pass through the first seal, reducing leakage. This adapts to the complex environment of the knitting circular knitting machine workshop with many fibers and dust, and maintains the cleanliness of the inside of the drive shaft.

[0048] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 A first flow gap and a second flow gap are formed between the first bearing pad 12 and the second bearing pad 13 and the shaft 2, respectively. The range of the second flow gap is larger than that of the first flow gap. The reduced range of the first flow gap can partially block the oil, preventing oil from splashing out of the bearing housing 1 during high-speed rotation. Furthermore, the cooperation between the first and second flow gaps achieves gradient flow control of the lubricating oil. Inside the drive shaft, the lubricating oil needs to flow from the outside into the bearing component 3 for lubrication. The first flow gap, as the upstream channel, has a smaller size to control the initial flow and prevent a large influx of lubricating oil. The second flow gap, located downstream of the bearing component 3, has a larger range to provide more sufficient flow space for the lubricating oil, ensuring that all parts of the bearing component 3 are adequately lubricated. The effect of this design is to achieve precise distribution of lubricating oil, avoiding both poor lubrication due to insufficient flow and waste and leakage caused by excessive flow, thus improving the economy and reliability of the lubrication system.

[0049] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1 A one-way valve is installed in the flow channel. The one-way valve is used to control the one-way flow of fluid and prevent backflow. In the drive shaft system of the circular knitting machine, fluids such as lubricating oil usually need to circulate in a specific direction, such as flowing from the oil supply device to the bearing component 3 and then returning from the oil return channel. The one-way valve can ensure that the fluid can only flow in the preset direction and avoid backflow of fluid caused by equipment shutdown, vibration or pressure fluctuation.

[0050] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0051] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art can make other changes or modifications based on the above disclosure, and these changes or modifications still fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A drive shaft for a circular knitting machine, comprising a bearing housing, the bearing housing having a protruding portion, wherein a receiving slot penetrating the bearing housing is provided in the protruding portion, and a shaft is movably mounted in the receiving slot, characterized in that: The bearing housing has a first bearing pad and a second bearing pad that are spaced apart on the inner ring. Two sets of bearing components are installed in the bearing housing and are located on both sides of the second bearing pad. When the shaft is located in the bearing housing, the outer periphery of the shaft is connected to the inner wall of the bearing component. The first and second support pads form a liquid storage area within the accommodating slot, and a liquid inlet is provided on one side of the protruding extension, the liquid inlet having a flow channel extending to the liquid storage area. A sealing sleeve with an annular arrangement is installed on the first bearing pad. The sealing sleeve has an inclined end and forms an opening through which a shaft passes. The inner wall of the opening fits against the outer periphery of the shaft. A sealing barrier is formed between the inner wall of the sealing sleeve and the second bearing pad. The first support pad is provided with overflow holes, and there are several overflow holes that are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the first support pad; A first gear and a second gear are movably mounted on the shaft, and the bearing housing is located between the first gear and the second gear.

2. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second gear has a hub portion, and the top end of the hub portion is provided with a mounting groove, in which a first sealing gasket is movably installed; The first sealing gasket abuts against the bottom of the bearing housing, and the inner wall of the first sealing gasket fits against the shaft.

3. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing housing has a guide groove on its inner ring. The guide groove is located on the side of the second bearing pad away from the first bearing pad. When the bearing component is located in the bearing housing, the guide groove is located on the outside of the bearing component.

4. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first support pad is provided with a slot, and the bottom of the sealing sleeve is provided with a locking block corresponding to the position of the slot. When the sealing sleeve is installed on the first support pad, the locking block is embedded in the slot.

5. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing sleeve also has an extension, and the inner ring of the extension has a groove, in which a second sealing gasket that fits against the shaft is disposed.

6. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first flow gap and a second flow gap are respectively formed between the first bearing pad and the second bearing pad and the shaft; The range of the second flow gap is larger than the range of the first flow gap.

7. The drive shaft for a circular knitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A one-way valve is installed in the flow channel.

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