Flexible coupling

Abstract

The utility model is intended for transmitting torque from a wheelset to a car generator in passenger cars of railway transport. The elastic coupling comprises a half coupling (1) connected to a shaft (2), a half coupling (3) placed on a shaft (4) of a generator (5). The half couplings (1) and (3) are connected by an element (6) made of an elastic material. The sleeve of the half coupling (1) encloses the sleeve of the half coupling (3) with the ability to rotate relative to it about the longitudinal axis of the shafts (2), (4). Between the sleeves of the half couplings (1) and (3) there is a bearing assembly chamber, where three radial-thrust rolling bearings (9) are installed, for operation of which liquid lubrication is used. The coupling makes it possible to reduce the intensity of the brinelling effect of the bearings (9) and to increase the service life of the coupling. The coupling has increased operational reliability and can be used in drives with a rotation speed of up to 5000 rpm. 1 ill.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of mechanical engineering and is intended for use in the design of passenger cars of railway transport for transmitting torque from the wheelset to the car generator.

[0002] The flexible coupling is a non-disengageable coupling that allows relative movement of the connected shafts during car movement due to the rotation of the coupling halves relative to each other, as well as the deformation of the elastic element connecting the coupling halves. This absorbs the energy of shocks arising from the torque between the drive cardan shaft and the car's generator shaft.

[0003] The utility model proposes an improvement in the design of an elastic coupling under patent for utility model No. 225950 RU (IPC F16D 3 / 64, F16J 15 / 00, published on 14.05.2024, patent holder Ural Production Enterprise CJSC).

[0004] More specifically, the utility model proposes to improve the design of the bearing assembly area.

[0005] The specified elastic coupling according to patent for utility model No. 225950 RU includes a first half coupling with a flange, connected to the drive (cardan) shaft, a second half coupling with a flange, put on the driven shaft (shaft of a car generator), and an element made of elastic material connected to both half couplings.

[0006] Each of the half couplings is designed (as shown in the figure) as a sleeve with a flange. The sleeves of the half couplings are arranged concentrically, with the sleeve of the first half coupling enclosing the sleeve of the second half coupling and capable of rotation relative to it around the longitudinal axis of the driven and driving shafts.

[0007] A base is fixed to the flange of the second half coupling sleeve, which is necessary for connecting the half couplings with an element made of elastic material.

[0008] An element made of elastic material is vulcanized to the surfaces of the first half coupling and to the base surface of the second half coupling.

[0009] In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driven and driving shafts, a local weakening of the strength of an element made of elastic material is made in the form of metal rings connected to this element, fastened together with rivets.

[0010] Rolling bearings are located between the concentrically located bushings of the half couplings (according to the description, this is the chamber of the bearing unit).

[0011] Also according to the description, the number of rolling bearings is three, with radial rolling bearings located at the edges and a thrust rolling bearing located between them.

[0012] One spacer ring, which is an integral part of the bearing assembly, is installed between adjacent bearings (as shown in the figure). The spacers are L-shaped due to the relative positions of the outer and inner rings of adjacent bearings.

[0013] The rolling bearings are secured to the second half coupling with nuts, between which a retaining ring is installed.

[0014] A groove is made in the sleeve of the first half coupling, into which a spring ring is inserted, fixing the position of the half coupling and eliminating the possibility of its movement along the axis of the driving and driven shafts.

[0015] Between the driven shaft half coupling (second half coupling) and the inner surface of the cardan (drive) shaft mounting half coupling (first half coupling), an annular elastic cuff is installed, tightly fitting with its inner part to the surface of the lock nut, i.e. this cuff is installed between the half coupling bushings.

[0016] According to the description, the tightness of the bearing assembly chamber is maintained thanks to the above-described annular elastic cuff, as well as another cuff installed (according to the figure) between the end of the base and the outer surface of the sleeve of the first half coupling.

[0017] The bearing chamber, as described, is filled with grease. In practice, this flexible coupling uses a solid grease.

[0018] The elastic coupling is equipped with a casing that protects the elastic material element that connects both coupling halves from contamination.

[0019] The above-described elastic coupling has the following disadvantage.

[0020] The use of a thrust bearing in a bearing assembly requires axial clearance to ensure its proper operation, which leads to gaps in radial bearings between their outer and inner rings and rolling elements (balls). The presence of such gaps (play), as well as the constant rotation of the entire bearing assembly along with the coupling during railcar movement, causes vibration loads on the rolling elements of the bearings. This leads to the brinelling effect, i.e., depressions (dents) form on the rolling elements or raceways of the bearings.

[0021] The brinelling effect reduces the service life of the bearing assembly and also does not allow the use of this elastic coupling in the drive systems of a car generator with a rotation speed increased to 5000 rpm, since with an increase in rotation speed, the load on the rolling elements increases and, as a result, the degree of brinelling increases, which thereby limits the lower limit of the car speed mode at which it is possible to turn on the car generator.

[0022] The technical problem that the utility model is aimed at solving is to eliminate the above-described disadvantage of the elastic coupling according to patent for utility model No. 225950 RU, namely, to reduce the intensity of the bearing brinelling effect.

[0023] The technical result of the utility model consists in increasing the operational reliability of an elastic coupling and the use of the proposed coupling in car generator drives with an increased rotation speed of up to 5000 rpm due to the installation of radial thrust bearings in the bearing unit as rolling bearings, for the lubrication of which a liquid lubricant is used.

[0024] The specified technical result is achieved in that in an elastic coupling comprising a first half coupling connected to a drive shaft, a second half coupling put on a driven shaft, wherein each of the half couplings is made in the form of a sleeve with a flange, a base secured to the flange of the sleeve of the second half coupling, an element made of elastic material connecting both half couplings together, a spring ring inserted into a groove made in the sleeve of the first half coupling, wherein the sleeve of the first half coupling covers the sleeve of the second half coupling with the possibility of rotation relative to it around the longitudinal axis of the driven and drive shafts, between the sleeves of the half couplings there is a bearing assembly chamber where three rolling bearings and spacer rings between adjacent bearings are installed, at the same time, the rolling bearings are fixed on the second half coupling with adjusting and locking nuts with with a retaining ring between them,in addition, the bearing assembly chamber is isolated by two elastic annular seals: the first of which is located between the end of the base and the outer surface of the sleeve of the first half coupling, and the second - between the sleeves of the half couplings, while in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driven and driving shafts, a local weakening of the strength of an element made of elastic material in the form of metal rings connected to this element, fastened together with rivets, according to the utility model, radial thrust bearings are used as rolling bearings, and two spacer rings are installed between adjacent bearings: the first of which is placed between the outer rings of the bearings, the second - between their inner rings, the second elastic annular seal is made reinforced, placed near the lock nut and fixed with a spring ring inserted into a groove made in the sleeve of the first half coupling,and in the flange of the second half coupling there are two oppositely located through holes with an outlet into the chamber of the bearing unit, each of which is closed with a plug screw.

[0025] The essence of the utility model is explained by a figure in which the elastic coupling is shown in section.

[0026] The elastic coupling comprises a first half coupling 1 connected to the drive (cardan shaft) 2, a second half coupling 3 put on the driven shaft 4 of the car generator 5 using a key 25. Half couplings 1 and 3 have the form of a sleeve with a flange. A base 12 is attached to the flange of the second half coupling 3 with bolts 11. Half couplings 1 and 3 are connected by an element 6 made of an elastic material vulcanized to the surfaces of the first half coupling 1 and to the surface of the base 12 of the second half coupling 3. Half couplings 1, 3 and the base 12 are made of steel.

[0027] The sleeve of the first half coupling 1 covers the sleeve of the second half coupling 3 with the possibility of rotation relative to it around the longitudinal axis of the driven 4 and driving 2 shafts.

[0028] On the first half coupling 1, a casing 14 is secured with bolts 13, protecting an element 6 made of elastic material from contamination.

[0029] The elastic coupling is fastened with bolt 15 on the driven shaft 4 of the car generator through washer 16, in which a labyrinth seal is made, covered by labyrinth ring 17.

[0030] The drive cardan shaft 2 is attached to the first half coupling 1 with studs 18.

[0031] In a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driven 4 and driving 2 shafts, a local weakening of the strength of element 6 made of elastic material is performed in the form of metal rings 21 and 23 connected to this element, fastened together with rivets 22 made of steel or aluminum alloy.

[0032] The specified weakening of the strength of element 6 made of elastic material is intended to protect the elastic coupling from destruction in an emergency situation due to the destruction of rivets 22, thereby protecting the integrity of the entire drive of the car generator, since there is no transmission of torque from the drive (cardan) shaft to the car generator.

[0033] Between the bushings of the half couplings 1 and 3 there is a bearing assembly chamber where three radial thrust rolling bearings 9 are installed.

[0034] The bearings 9 are fastened to the second half coupling 3 by the adjusting nut 26 and the lock nut 27. A lock ring 7 is installed between the nuts 26 and 27, preventing the nuts 26 and 27 from spontaneously loosening. In addition, the lock nut 27 and the lock ring 7 fix the position of the adjusting nut 26.

[0035] Two spacer rings 10 are installed between adjacent radial thrust bearings 9: the first of which is placed between the outer rings of bearings 9, the second between their inner rings.

[0036] The advantage of using radial thrust bearings in a bearing unit, which can support both radial and axial loads, is that their operation does not require the axial clearance required for the operation of a thrust bearing, which is part of the bearing unit of an elastic coupling according to patent No. 225950 RU.

[0037] This allows the required tension of the radial thrust bearings 9 to be set with the adjusting nut 26 through the spacer rings 10, thereby eliminating the presence of play (gaps) in the bearing assembly between the rings and the rotating bodies (balls) in the bearings 9, thereby reducing the intensity of the brinelling effect of the bearings, which causes dents to form on the rolling elements or raceways.

[0038] The bearing assembly chamber is insulated by two elastic annular seals 19 and 28. The first annular seal 19 is located between the end face of the base 12 and the outer surface of the sleeve of the first half coupling 1. The second elastic annular seal 28 is installed between the sleeves of the half couplings 1 and 3 near the lock nut 27. To fix the position of the seal 28, a groove is made in the sleeve of the first half coupling 1, into which a spring ring 8 is inserted, excluding the possibility of movement of the seal 28 along the axis of the driving 2 and driven 4 shafts towards the driving shaft 2.

[0039] Elastic annular seal 28 is reinforced to enhance the bearing assembly's sealing reliability. A standard rubber reinforced shaft seal, whose installation is regulated by regulatory documents, can be used as seal 28. Specifically, to prevent axial movement of the seal, an annular groove is made on the inner surface of the sleeve of the first coupling half 1 near the lock nut 27, and the threads for mounting nuts 26 and 27 on the outer surface of the second coupling half 3 are located only in the area where they are located.

[0040] Elastic ring seals 19 and 28 allow maintaining the tightness of the bearing assembly chamber for the entire service life of the elastic coupling until its scheduled repair.

[0041] Furthermore, thanks to the reinforced seal 28, the bearing assembly can operate using a liquid lubricant instead of the solid grease used in the flexible coupling according to patent No. 225950 RU. The liquid lubricant minimizes wear on the friction surfaces by more evenly distributing the lubricant across the contact areas between the rolling elements and the bearing rings and, due to its viscosity, by reducing the effect of centrifugal force squeezing the lubricant out of these areas. Motor or transmission oil can be used as this lubricant.

[0042] Thus, the intensity of the brinelling effect of bearings 9 is significantly reduced due to the use of radial thrust bearings in the bearing unit, the reliability of the sealing of the working chamber, ensured by the reinforcement of the cuff 28, and the use of liquid lubricant, as a result of which the elastic coupling has increased operational reliability.

[0043] Also, the reduction in the intensity of the brinelling effect of bearings 9 allows the use of an elastic coupling in the drives of a car generator with a rotation frequency increased to 5000 rpm, which allows for a reduction in the minimum speed of the car at which the car generator can be turned on.

[0044] To protect the bearing assembly from contamination, a rubber ring 20 is installed between the washer 16 and the first half coupling 1.

[0045] In the flange of the second half coupling 3, two oppositely located through holes are made with an outlet into the chamber of the bearing unit, each of which is closed with a plug screw 29. One hole is intended for filling the chamber of the bearing unit with liquid lubricant, through the other air is released, squeezed out by the lubricant, thereby ensuring complete filling of the chamber and reliable operation of the bearing unit.

[0046] When the car generator drive is operating, the torque is transmitted from the drive shaft 2 to the driven shaft 4 of the generator 5 through the studs 18, the first half coupling 1, the element 6 made of elastic material, the base 12, the bolts 11, the second half coupling 3 and the key 25.

[0047] Thus, the utility model solves the stated problem of eliminating the drawback of the elastic coupling according to patent No. 225950 RU, namely, reducing the intensity of the bearing brinelling effect, and has the following technical result:

[0048] increasing the operational reliability of the elastic coupling, which increases its service life;

[0049] The possibility of using an elastic coupling in car generator drives with a rotation speed increased to 5000 rpm, which makes it possible to reduce the minimum car speed at which the car generator can be turned on.

Claims

An elastic coupling comprising a first half coupling connected to a drive shaft, a second half coupling placed on a driven shaft, each of the half couplings being made in the form of a sleeve with a flange, a base secured to the flange of the sleeve of the second half coupling, an element made of elastic material connecting both half couplings together, a spring ring inserted into a groove made in the sleeve of the first half coupling, wherein the sleeve of the first half coupling embraces the sleeve of the second half coupling with the possibility of rotation relative to it around the longitudinal axis of the driven and drive shafts, between the sleeves of the half couplings there is a bearing assembly chamber, wherein three rolling bearings and spacer rings between adjacent bearings are installed, wherein the rolling bearings are fixed on the second half coupling with adjusting and locking nuts with a locking ring between them,in addition, the bearing assembly chamber is isolated by two elastic annular seals: the first of which is located between the end of the base and the outer surface of the sleeve of the first half coupling, and the second between the sleeves of the half couplings, while in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driven and driving shafts, a local weakening of the strength of an element made of elastic material in the form of metal rings connected to this element, fastened together with rivets, characterized in that radial thrust bearings are used as rolling bearings, and two spacer rings are installed between adjacent bearings: the first of which is placed between the outer rings of the bearings, the second between their inner rings, and the second elastic annular seal is made reinforced, placed near the lock nut and fixed with a spring ring inserted into a groove made in the sleeve of the first half coupling,and in the flange of the second half coupling there are two oppositely located through holes with an outlet into the chamber of the bearing unit, each of which is closed with a plug screw.

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