Compensating coupling for offset-compensating connecting of two shafts

Abstract

The invention relates to a compensating coupling, comprising a connection flange, elastic compensating elements and a rigid central piece. The central piece is formed by two central piece elements (18), which, in order to form the central piece, are releasably fastened to one another rotated with respect to one another about a rotational axis (34) and are centred with respect to one another in a form-fitting manner at end faces (25), facing one another, via first form-fitting portions (26) and second form-fitting portions (27), wherein the first form-fitting portions (26) and the second form-fitting portions (27) are designed as counter-pieces with respect to one another and fit into one another in pairs, and wherein the first (26) and second form-fitting portions (27) on the individual central piece element (18) are designed successively in the circumferential direction. The individual form-fitting portion (26; 27) protrudes at the respective end face of the individual central piece element (18) and is formed by one elevated region (28; 29) and one lower region (30; 31) which is radially adjacent to the one elevated region (28; 29). Furthermore, on the individual form-fitting portion (26; 27) there is a transition (32; 33) from the one elevated region (28; 29) to the one lower region (30; 31) along a circular arc the radius of which has a centre point lying on the rotational axis (34).

Description

[0001] Compensating coupling for offset-compensating connection of two shafts

[0002] The invention relates to a compensating coupling for the offset-compensating connection of two shafts, in particular for use in a drive train of a rail vehicle, comprising a first connecting flange, a second connecting flange, a first elastic compensating element, a second elastic compensating element and a rigid center piece, wherein the first connecting flange serves for attachment to a first shaft and is connected to the first elastic compensating element, which is also connected to the second elastic compensating element via the intermediate center piece, wherein the second elastic compensating element is connected to the second connecting flange, which is provided for attachment to a second shaft, wherein the center piece is formed by two center piece elements,which, to form the center piece, are releasably fastened to one another, rotated relative to one another about a rotational axis, and are centered in a form-fitting manner relative to one another on mutually facing end faces via first form-fitting sections and second form-fitting sections. The first form-fitting sections and the second form-fitting sections are designed as counterparts to one another and fit into one another in pairs, and the first and second form-fitting sections are designed successively in the circumferential direction on the individual center piece element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a drive train of a rail vehicle with the aforementioned compensating coupling.

[0003] In rail vehicle drivetrains, the use of compensating couplings is known to compensate for misalignments between the drive shaft of a usually electric drive motor and the transmission input shaft of a final drive. The reason for such misalignments is usually that the drive motor is usually suspended from a sprung bogie in the drivetrain, while the final drive, usually an axle-mounted transmission, is supported directly on an unsprung axle shaft. This can lead to relative movements of the sprung drive motor compared to the unsprung final drive during operation of the respective rail vehicle. To compensate for these misalignments, the respective compensating coupling is then provided between the drive shaft and the transmission input shaft.The respective connection between the elastic compensating elements of the respective compensating coupling is often established via an intermediate, rigid center piece, which is sometimes constructed in multiple parts. To reduce manufacturing costs, the center pieces forming the center piece are also designed identically, with some form-fitting connections being implemented between the center pieces to hold them together in a form-fitting manner and to relieve the load on the fastenings, which are usually designed as screw connections.

[0004] DE 10 2020203 864 A1 discloses a compensating coupling for connecting two shafts in a manner that compensates for misalignment. This compensating coupling is provided with two connecting flanges and two elastic compensating elements, as well as a rigid center piece arranged between the elastic compensating elements to connect the elastic compensating elements. The center piece is formed by two identically designed, disc-like center pieces, which are releasably fastened to one another in a twisted manner. The releasable fastening is achieved via center piece screw connections, which each fasten both center pieces to one of the elastic compensating elements. Furthermore, the compensating elements are centered relative to one another when fastened via form-fitting sections, which fit into each other in pairs.In the case of interlocking sections, each of them serves as a first interlocking section, which forms a counterpart to a second interlocking section. The interlocking sections are designed as matching pins and countersinks or as recesses and projections. To enable the identical centerpiece elements to be attached to one another in a twisted manner, the interlocking sections of the individual centerpiece elements are designed in the circumferential direction, alternating successively as a first interlocking section and a second interlocking section.

[0005] Based on the prior art described above, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a compensating coupling in which a center piece is formed by identically constructed center piece elements, whereby on the one hand a reliable centering of the center piece elements relative to one another can be realized and on the other hand a disassembly of the compensating coupling in the region of the center piece formed by the center piece elements should be possible as easily as possible.

[0006] This object is achieved based on the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The dependent claims that follow each of these claims provide advantageous developments of the invention. Furthermore, claim 13 relates to a drive train of a rail vehicle with a compensating coupling according to the invention.

[0007] According to the invention, a compensating coupling comprises a first connecting flange, a second connecting flange, a first elastic compensating element, a second elastic compensating element, and a rigid center piece. The first connecting flange is used for attachment to a first shaft and is connected to the first elastic compensating element, which is also connected to the second elastic compensating element via the intermediate center piece. The second elastic compensating element is connected to the second connecting flange, which is provided for attachment to a second shaft. Furthermore, the center piece is composed of two center piece elements which, to form the center piece, are releasably fastened to one another in a manner rotated relative to one another about an axis of rotation. In this case, they are centered in a form-fitting manner relative to one another on mutually facing end faces via first form-fitting sections and second form-fitting sections.The first form-fitting sections and the second form-fitting sections are designed as counterparts to one another and fit into one another in pairs, wherein the first and second form-fitting sections on the individual center piece element are each designed successively in the circumferential direction.

[0008] The compensating coupling according to the invention is particularly designed, in the installed state, to establish an offset-compensating connection between the first shaft, which is then fastened to the first connecting flange, and the second shaft, which is then fastened to the second connecting flange. The compensating coupling according to the invention is particularly preferably designed for use in a drive train of a rail vehicle, wherein the first shaft is in particular a drive shaft of a drive motor of the drive train and the second shaft is preferably a transmission input shaft of a gear set of the drive train.

[0009] The compensating coupling is preferably capable of compensating for axial and radial displacements, as well as angular displacements, between the two shafts to be connected and thus between the connecting flanges when torque is transmitted between them. This is achieved by corresponding elastic deformations of one or both elastic compensating elements.

[0010] Within the compensating coupling according to the invention, the first elastic compensating element couples the first connecting flange to the rigid center piece, whereby elastic deformations of the first compensating element enable displacements in the axial and radial directions as well as angular displacements between the center piece and the first connecting flange. The center piece is also coupled to the second connecting flange, whereby this coupling is established via the intermediate, second elastic compensating element, which can realize displacements in the axial and radial directions as well as angular displacements between the center piece and the second connecting flange through elastic deformation. This makes it easy to realize even greater displacements between the two shafts connected via the compensating coupling when transmitting torque.Within the scope of the invention, the individual elastic compensating element can be designed as a thread-reinforced elastomer disc.

[0011] The center piece of the compensating coupling according to the invention is of rigid design, i.e. a transmission of torque between the two elastic compensating elements coupled via the center piece takes place with at most negligible deformation of the center piece. In addition, the center piece is of multi-part design in that it is composed of two center piece elements. In this case, the two center piece elements are preferably each of a disc-like design, i.e. the two center piece elements each have, in particular, at least substantially the shape of a disc. Preferably, the two center piece elements are made of a metallic material and are thus of substantially rigid design in order to be able to jointly form the rigid center piece. Very particularly preferably, the individual center piece element can be designed as a forged part which has been precision-machined in corresponding areas.

[0012] To form the centerpiece, the two centerpiece elements are detachably fastened to one another. For this purpose, the two centerpiece elements are rotated relative to one another about a rotation axis and, during fastening, are positively centered relative to one another at their mutually facing end faces. In particular, this positive centering prevents transverse movements of the centerpiece elements relative to one another, which at least relieves the load on separate, detachable fastening means in the transverse direction of the centerpiece elements.

[0013] The positive centering is realized via first positive-locking sections and second positive-locking sections, whereby the first positive-locking sections represent counterparts to the second positive-locking sections and vice versa. When the two centerpiece elements are rotated relative to each other, the first positive-locking sections and the second positive-locking sections fit into each other in pairs, so that the first positive-locking sections and the second positive-locking sections interact to realize the positive centering. To realize the positive centering, a first positive-locking section on each centerpiece element interacts with a second positive-locking section on each centerpiece element.

[0014] The individual center piece element is equipped with first and second form-fitting sections, wherein at least one first form-fitting section and at least one second form-fitting section are formed in the individual center piece element. However, the individual center piece element particularly preferably has a plurality of first form-fitting sections and a plurality of second form-fitting sections. In order to achieve form-fitting centering when the two center piece elements are connected, the form-fitting sections in the individual center piece element are designed successively in the circumferential direction as a first form-fitting section and as a second form-fitting section, so that when the two center piece elements are rotated relative to one another, a pairwise fit of a first form-fitting section of one center piece element and a second form-fitting section of the other center piece element is achieved.

[0015] Particularly preferably, the first and second form-fitting sections on the individual center piece element alternate in the circumferential direction, so that in the circumferential direction on the individual center piece element, each first form-fitting section is followed by a second form-fitting section and vice versa.

[0016] The invention now comprises the technical teaching that the individual form-fitting section is designed to protrude from the respective end face of the individual centerpiece element and is formed by a projection and a recess, each of which is radially adjacent to the respective projection and recessed relative to the respective projection. Furthermore, in the individual form-fitting section, a respective transition from the respective projection to the respective recess is made along a circular arc, the radius of which has a center point located on the rotation axis.

[0017] In other words, the respective form-fitting section protrudes on the respective end face at which the respective middle piece element is to be fastened to the other middle piece element. Each form-fitting section is made up of a projection and a recess which are radially immediately adjacent to one another, with each recess being set back from the respective projection, i.e. protruding less far on the respective end face than the respective projection. Each transition at which the respective projection and recess merge into one another is designed in the shape of a circular arc, with a radius of the circular arc-shaped transition being designed with a radius whose center point lies on the axis of rotation around which the middle piece elements are rotated relative to one another.Such a design of the respective form-fitting section has the advantage that, on the one hand, a form-fitting centering of the two center piece elements can be reliably achieved when the center piece elements are connected. Because the transitions between the projections and the recesses of the form-fitting sections designed as counterparts to one another are also designed in the shape of a circular arc, and the centers of the circular arc-shaped transitions lie on the axis of rotation, the center piece elements can be rotated relative to one another after the fastening is released, whereby the centering can be canceled by rotating the form-fitting sections relative to one another. As a result, transverse movements of the two center piece elements relative to one another can then also occur, whereby the compensating coupling according to the invention can be easily separated from one another in the region of the center piece and thus disassembled.

[0018] Although the compensating coupling of DE 10 2020 203 864 A1 also allows for the separation of the center piece by axially moving the center piece elements apart, thus eliminating the pairwise engagement of the form-fitting sections, this requires a corresponding axial mobility of the center piece elements relative to each other. Therefore, depending on the installation situation, disassembly of the compensating coupling of DE 10 2020 203 864 A1 may be difficult.

[0019] In the individual form-fitting section, each projection and each recess are formed radially adjacent to one another, wherein in the first form-fitting sections, the projections are each configured radially inward and the recesses are each configured radially outward, while in the second form-fitting sections, which are counterparts to these, the projections are each configured radially outward and the recesses are each configured radially inward. Accordingly, the pairwise fitting of the first form-fitting sections and the second form-fitting sections is realized in the correspondingly rotated position of the center piece elements in that the projections of each first form-fitting section and each second form-fitting section axially overlap and are radially opposite one another.In terms of area, the individual form-fitting section can be divided evenly or unevenly between one projection and one recess.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the individual center piece element, intermediate spaces are formed in the circumferential direction between the protruding form-fitting sections, the respective extensions of which in the circumferential direction are greater than the extensions of the projections of the form-fitting sections in the circumferential direction. Thus, between the protruding form-fitting sections, regions set back from the form-fitting sections are designed as intermediate spaces, each of which is designed in the circumferential direction to be larger than the extensions of the projections of the form-fitting sections.This has the advantage that, after loosening the fastening and rotating the center piece elements relative to each other, the projections of the form-fitting sections of one center piece element can each be inserted into a gap in the other center piece element, allowing the center pieces to be pushed past each other in the transverse direction. This further simplifies disassembly of the compensating coupling.

[0021] In a further development of the invention, each individual form-fitting section has a circular cross-section. This allows the individual form-fitting section to be manufactured in a simple manner. Alternatively, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention for each individual form-fitting section to have a cross-section defined by a section of a respective radially outer circumference, a section of a respective radially inner circumference, and two chords connecting these sections. Particularly preferably, the connecting chords run essentially parallel to one another.

[0022] According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the individual form-fitting section on the respective center piece element is designed to overlap in the circumferential direction, each with a fastening point at which a releasable fastening of the respective center piece element to the other center piece element is made. This allows the respective form-fitting centering to be realized in a surrounding manner at each fastening point, at which the center piece elements are fastened to one another.

[0023] A further possible embodiment of the invention is that the individual center piece element has an at least approximately polygonal shape, at each of whose corners there is a fastening point, wherein at each fastening point the respective center piece element is fastened to the other center piece element. Particularly preferably, the individual center piece element has the shape of a hexagon, wherein the two center piece elements are then fastened to one another, preferably rotated by an angle of 60°, to form the center piece. In addition to the fastening points located at the corners, a form-fitting section is also preferably formed at each of the corners, so that the form-fitting centering is also formed at these corners when the center piece elements are rotated relative to one another.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first elastic compensating element is connected to the center piece via first center piece screw connections, which is also connected to the second elastic compensating element via second center piece screw connections. This advantageously allows for detachable connections between the center piece and the elastic compensating elements.

[0025] In a further development of this embodiment, fastening points, to which each of the respective center piece elements is fastened via one of the center piece screw connections, follow one another in the circumferential direction on the respective center piece element and are designed alternately as through holes and as threaded holes. This makes it possible to realize a suitable structure of the compensating coupling in which the two center piece elements are fastened to one another via the respective center piece screw connection by guiding a respective screw, starting from the respective compensating element, through the respective fastening point of one center piece element, designed as a through hole, and screwing it into the respective fastening point of the other center piece element, for which purpose the respective fastening point of the other center piece element is then designed as a threaded hole.Preferably, each elastic compensating element can be equipped with a bushing at its respective screwing point. In addition to a respective screw, a washer and / or lock washer can also be provided for the respective center piece screw connection.

[0026] Within the scope of the invention, the center piece elements are detachably fastened to one another via the first center piece screw connections and / or via the second center piece screw connections, wherein the fastening of the center piece elements to one another is carried out in particular both via the first center piece screw connections and via the second center piece screw connections. Particularly preferably, when fastened to one another, the center piece elements are in contact with one another at the form-fitting sections protruding from the end faces and are prestressed against one another via the first center piece screw connections and / or via the second center piece screw connections, wherein a contact surface between the center piece elements defined by the contact of the form-fitting sections is designed to be so large that, during prestressing, a nominal torque to be transmitted by the compensating coupling can be transmitted frictionally between the center piece elements.This has the advantage that the respective screw connections are at least essentially subjected to tensile forces rather than shear forces. In particular, the centerpiece elements are coupled to each other predominantly or entirely by frictional engagement in the direction of rotation.

[0027] According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the first connecting flange is connected to the first elastic compensating element via first flange screw connections, wherein the second elastic compensating element is connected to the second connecting flange via second flange screw connections. As a result, the individual connecting flange is also detachably fastened to the respective elastic compensating element. In a load-free state of the compensating coupling according to the invention and thus in an undeformed state of the two compensating elements, one flange screw connection is preferably at least approximately aligned with one center piece screw connection. In a further development of the invention, the center piece elements are designed identically to one another, i.e. the center piece elements have the same shape.This has the advantage that the center piece elements are used as identical parts in the compensating coupling, which reduces the manufacturing effort for the compensating coupling.

[0028] The invention further relates to a drive train of a rail vehicle, wherein a compensating coupling according to one or more of the variants described above is provided in this drive train. Particularly preferably, the compensating coupling connects a drive shaft of a prime mover to a transmission input shaft of a transmission. The prime mover is suspended in particular from a sprung bogie in the drive train, while the transmission is preferably located as an axle-mounted transmission directly on an unsprung axle shaft. The compensating coupling according to the invention compensates for offsets between the drive shaft and the transmission input shaft, which may be caused by relative movements due to the sprung arrangement of the prime mover compared to the unsprung transmission.

[0029] Advantageous embodiments of the invention, which are explained below, are illustrated in the drawings. It shows:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a compensating coupling according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0031] Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of a centerpiece element of the

[0032] Compensating coupling from Fig. 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0033] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an arrangement of two according to

[0034] Fig. 2 shows centerpiece elements configured to form a centerpiece of the compensating coupling from Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 and 5 show individual perspective views of a centerpiece element according to an alternative, second embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a compensating coupling 1, which is designed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and intended for use in a drive train of a rail vehicle. The compensating coupling 1 comprises two rigid connecting flanges 2 and 3, two elastic compensating elements 4 and 5, and a rigid center piece 6. Of the two connecting flanges 2 and 3, one connecting flange 2 is provided for a rotationally fixed connection to a first shaft, while the other connecting flange 3 serves for a rotationally fixed connection to a second shaft.When using the compensating coupling 1 in a drive train of a rail vehicle, the first shaft is preferably a drive shaft of a drive machine, in particular an electric machine, whereas the second shaft is preferably a transmission input shaft of a wheel set transmission coupled to the drive machine via the compensating coupling 1.

[0036] The connecting flange 2 is detachably connected to the elastic compensating element 4 via flange screw connections 7, for which purpose the connecting flange 2 is provided with threaded holes 8 into which fastening screws 9 of the flange screw connections 7 are screwed from the side of the compensating element 4. The fastening screws 9 are guided through bushings (not shown here) in the compensating element 4 and rest with their screw heads on a side of the compensating element 4 facing away from the connecting flange 2.

[0037] In addition to the detachable connection to the connecting flange 2, the compensating element 4 is also detachably fastened to the center piece 6, this detachable fastening being effected via center piece screw connections 10. The center piece screw connections 10 also each comprise a fastening screw 11, which is passed through a bushing 12 which is received in the compensating element 4. The one fastening screw 11 of the individual center piece screw connection 10 is then screwed in from the center piece 6 and rests with a respective screw head on a side facing away from the center piece 6 on the compensating element 4, so that the compensating element 4 is fastened on the one hand to the connecting flange 2 and on the other hand to the center piece 6.

[0038] As can also be seen in Fig. 1, the center piece 6 couples the compensating element 4 to the compensating element 5 in that the center piece 6 is additionally fastened to the compensating element 5 via center piece screw connections 13. In the center piece screw connections 13, a respective fastening screw 14 is also passed through a bushing of the compensating element 5 (not visible in Fig. 1) and screwed in from the side of the center piece 6, with the respective fastening screw 14 resting with a screw head on a side of the compensating element 5 facing away from the center piece 6. The compensating element 5 is also connected to the connecting flange 3, this connection being realized by fastening the compensating element 5 to the connecting flange 3 via flange screw connections 15.Each individual flange screw connection 15 has a fastening screw 16, each of which is guided through a bushing 17 received in the compensating element 5. The respective fastening screw 16 is then screwed into a threaded hole (not visible here) on the side of the connecting flange 3 and rests with a respective screw head on a side of the compensating element 5 facing away from the connecting flange 3.

[0039] The elastic compensating elements 4 and 5 and the center piece 6 enable torque transmission between the connecting flange 2 and the connecting flange 3, whereby the two compensating elements 4 and 5 can enable axial offsets, radial offsets as well as angular offsets between the connecting flanges 2 and 3 and thus also between the shafts connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner by elastic deformations.

[0040] As can be seen in Fig. 1, in an unloaded state of the compensating coupling 1 and thus also in undeformed states of the compensating elements 4 and 5, one of the center piece screw connections 13 is essentially aligned with one of the flange screw connections 7, while one of the center piece screw connections 10 is placed at least largely aligned with one of the flange screw connections 15.

[0041] The rigid center piece 6 is composed of two rigid center piece elements 18 and 19, which are identical to one another and each correspond to a first embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from the perspective individual view of the center piece element 18 in Fig. 2, the respective center piece element 18 or 19 is disk-shaped and equipped with several fastening points 20 and 21, of which the fastening points 20 each serve to pass through the fastening screws 11 of the center piece screw connections 10, while the fastening points 21 are each provided for screwing in the fastening screws 14 of the center piece screw connections 13. For this purpose, the fastening points 20 are designed as through-holes 22, whereas the fastening points 21 are each present as threaded holes 23.

[0042] In this case, the center piece element 18 is designed to be extended at the sections forming the through holes 22 in comparison to the sections forming the threaded holes 23.

[0043] The total of six attachment points 20 and 21 are spaced equidistant from one another in the circumferential direction of the centerpiece element 18, which, together with the design of an inner circumference 24, gives the centerpiece element 18 a polygonal shape in the form of a hexagon. In this case, one of the attachment points 20 and 21 is arranged at each corner of the hexagon.

[0044] Form-fitting sections 26 and 27 are formed on an end face 25 of the center piece element 18, each of which protrudes on the end face 25 relative to the rest of the center piece element 18. The form-fitting sections 26 and 27 are each formed by a projection 28 and 29 respectively, as well as a recess 30 and 31 respectively, which is set back relative to the respective projection 28 and 29 respectively. In the case of the form-fitting sections 26, the respective projection 28 is configured radially inward relative to the respective recess 30, while in the case of the form-fitting sections 27, the respective projection 29 is defined radially outward relative to the respective recess 31. A respective transition 32 and 33, with which the respective projection 28 and 29 in the respective form-fitting section 26 and 27 merges into the respective recess 30 and 31 and vice versa, is designed in the shape of a circular arc in the present case.The circular arcs of the transitions 32 and 33 are each designed with essentially the same radius, the center of which lies on a rotation axis 34 of the center piece 18.

[0045] The form-locking sections 26 and 27 each have a circular cross-section and, like the fastening points 20 and 21, are each positioned at one of the corners of the hexagon. As a result, the form-locking sections 26 and 27 are each circumferentially configured to overlap one of the fastening points 20 and 27, with the fastening points 20 and 27 specifically located at a center point of the respective circular cross-section of the respective form-locking section 26 and 27, respectively. Furthermore, the individual form-locking sections 26 and 27 are approximately divided in half into the respective projection 28 and 29, respectively, and the respective recess 30 and 31, respectively.

[0046] In the center piece element 18, the form-fitting sections 26 and 27 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, so that a form-fitting section 26 always alternates with a form-fitting section 27 in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, due to its design, each form-fitting section 26 forms a counterpart to each form-fitting section 27, and vice versa. What has been described with regard to the center piece element 18 in Fig. 2 also applies to the center piece 19 due to the identical design of the center piece element 19.

[0047] In Fig. 3, the two center piece elements 18 and 19 are shown together without the remaining components of the compensating coupling 1, wherein the two center piece elements 18 and 19 are rotated about their respective axis of rotation 34 relative to one another by 60° into a position in which the center piece elements 18 and 19 can be assembled to form the center piece 6. In this position, a fastening point 20 of the center piece element 18 or 19 is aligned with a fastening point 21 of the center piece element 19 or 18, so that the fastening screws 11 or 14 of the respective center piece screw connection 10 or 13 can each be passed through the respective through-bore 22 and screwed into the respective threaded bore 23.

[0048] Furthermore, in this position, each form-fitting section 26 of one center piece element 18 or 19 is opposite a form-fitting section 27 of the other center piece element 19 or 18, so that the respective form-fitting sections 26 and 27, designed as counterparts to one another, fit into each other in pairs. This centers the center pieces 18 and 19 in a form-fitting manner, whereupon the rotation axes 34 of the center pieces 18 and 19 are coaxial with each other.

[0049] Due to the circular arc-shaped design of the transitions 32 and 33 of the form-fitting sections 26 and 27 with the same radius, the middle piece elements 18 and 19 can be rotated relative to one another about the axes of rotation 34 if none of the fastening screws 11 and 14 is screwed into the respective associated threaded bore 23. As a result, the middle piece elements 18 and 19 can be rotated relative to one another to such an extent that the form-fitting sections no longer engage with one another. As can be seen in Fig. 2 with reference to the middle piece element 18, the intermediate spaces 35 defined in the circumferential direction between the form-fitting sections 26 and 27 are each selected to be larger in the circumferential direction than the extensions of the projections 28 and 29 of the form-fitting sections 26 and 27 in the circumferential direction. This has the consequence that, above a certain rotation, the form-fitting sections 26 and 27 deviate from the configuration shown in Fig.3, allowing the center piece elements 18 and 19 to move transversely relative to each other. This then makes it possible to disassemble the compensating coupling 1 in the area of ​​the center piece 6 by separating the center piece elements 18 and 19.

[0050] When the center piece elements 18 and 19 are fastened to one another via the center piece screw connections 10 and 13, the center piece elements 18 and 19 are in contact with one another at their end faces via the interlocking and abutting form-fitting sections 26 and 27. In this case, the center piece screw connections 10 and 13 prestress the center piece screw connections 10 and 13 against one another, so that a frictional transmission of a required nominal torque between the center piece elements 18 and 19 can take place at a contact surface formed by the abutting form-fitting sections 26 and 27 between the center piece elements 18 and 19. As a result, the fastening screws 11 and 14 of the center piece screw connections 10 and 13 are then essentially only subjected to tensile forces.

[0051] 4 and 5 show perspective views of a center piece element 36, which is designed according to a further possible embodiment of the invention and can be used in duplicate instead of the center piece elements 18 and 19 in the compensating coupling 1 in Fig. 1. The center piece element 36 essentially corresponds to the center piece elements 18 and 19 from Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the center piece element 36 differs from the center piece elements 18 and 19 with regard to the design of form-fitting sections 37 and 38. The form-fitting sections 37 and 38 each have a cross-section which is defined by a section of a radially outer circumference 39, a section of a radially inner circumference 40, and two chords 41 and 42 connecting the respective sections - indicated in Fig. 4 for a form-fitting section 37.

[0052] Furthermore, in the case of the form-fitting sections 37, a respective radially outer recess 43 each represents a smaller area-wise part of the respective form-fitting section 37 than a respective radially inner projection 44. Likewise, in the case of the form-fitting sections 38, a respective radially outer projection 45 represents a smaller area-wise part of the respective form-fitting section 38, while a respective radially inner recess 46 represents the larger area-wise part of the respective form-fitting section 38. The reason for this is that the respective circular arc-shaped transitions 47 and 48 are now configured radially further outward on the center piece element 36 compared to the variant according to Figs. 2 and 3. Otherwise, the design option according to Figs. 4 and 5 corresponds to the variant according to Figs. 2 and 3, so that reference is made to what has been described in this regard.By means of the embodiments according to the invention, a compensating coupling can thus be created in which a center piece is formed by identically constructed center piece elements, wherein, with reliable centering of the center piece elements to one another, the compensating coupling can also be disassembled as easily as possible.

[0053] Reference symbol

[0054] Compensating coupling connecting flange connecting flange compensating element compensating element middle piece

[0055] Flange screw connection Threaded hole Fixing screw Center piece screw connection Fixing screw Bushing

[0056] Center piece screw connection Fixing screw Flange screw connection Fixing screw Bushing Center piece element

[0057] Centerpiece element Fastening point Fastening point Through hole Threaded hole Inner circumference Front side

[0058] Form-fitting section Form-fitting section Projection

[0059] Leading Deepening Deepening Transition

[0060] transition

[0061] axis of rotation

[0062] space

[0063] Centerpiece element

[0064] Form-fitting section

[0065] Form-fitting section

[0066] Scope

[0067] Scope

[0068] tendon

[0069] tendon

[0070] Deepening

[0071] projection

[0072] projection

[0073] Deepening

[0074] transition

[0075] transition

Claims

Patent claims 1. Compensating coupling (1) for the offset-compensating connection of two shafts, in particular for use in a drive train of a rail vehicle, comprising a first connecting flange (2), a second connecting flange (3), a first elastic compensating element (4), a second elastic compensating element (5) and a rigid middle piece (6), wherein the first connecting flange (2) is used for attachment to a first shaft and is connected to the first elastic compensating element (4), which is also connected to the second elastic compensating element (5) via the intermediate middle piece (6), wherein the second elastic compensating element (5) is connected to the second connecting flange (3), which is provided for attachment to a second shaft, wherein the middle piece (6) is formed by two middle piece elements (18, 19;36) is formed, which are detachably fastened to one another in a manner rotated relative to one another about an axis of rotation (34) to form the middle piece (6) and are centered in a form-fitting manner relative to one another on mutually facing end faces (25) via first form-fitting sections (26; 37) and second form-fitting sections (27; 38), wherein the first form-fitting sections (26; 37) and the second form-fitting sections (27; 38) are designed as counterparts to one another and fit into one another in pairs, and wherein the first (26; 37) and second form-fitting sections (27; 38) on the individual middle piece element (18, 19; 36) are each designed successively in the circumferential direction, characterized in that the individual form-fitting section (26; 27; 37; 38) on the respective end face (25) of the individual middle piece element (18, 19; 36) and by a projection (28; 29; 44; 45) and a recess (30; 31; 43; 46) is formed, each radially adjacent to the respective projection (28; 29; 44; 45) and is designed to be set back relative to each projection (28; 29; 44; 45), and that in the individual form-fitting section (26; 27; 37; 38) a respective transition (32; 33; 47; 48) of each projection (28; 29; 44; 45) into each recess (30; 31; 43; 46) is made along a circular arc, the radius of which has a center point lying on the axis of rotation (34).

2. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the individual middle piece element (18, 19; 36) in the circumferential direction between the protruding form-fitting sections (26, 27; 37, 38) intermediate spaces (35) are formed, the respective extension in the circumferential direction of which is greater than the extensions of the projections (28, 29; 44, 45) of the form-fitting sections (26, 27; 37, 38) in the circumferential direction.

3. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual form-fitting section (26, 27) each has a circular cross-section.

4. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual form-fitting section (37, 38) has a cross-section which is defined by a section of a respective radially outer circumference (39), a section of a respective radially inner circumference (40) and two chords (41, 42) connecting these sections.

5. Compensating coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual form-fitting section (26; 27; 37; 38) on the respective center piece element (18, 19; 36) is designed to overlap in the circumferential direction with a respective fastening point (20, 21), at which a releasable fastening of the respective center piece element (18; 19; 36) to the respective other center piece element (19; 18; 36) is carried out.

6. Compensating coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective center piece element (18; 19; 36) has an at least approximately polygonal shape, at the corner points of which there is a respective fastening point (20, 21), wherein at each fastening point (20, 21) the respective center piece element (18; 19; 36) is fastened to the respective other center piece element (19; 18; 36).

7. Compensating coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first elastic compensating element (4) is connected to the middle piece (6) via first middle piece screw connections (10), which is also connected to the second elastic compensating element (5) via second middle piece screw connections (13).

8. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that fastening points (20, 21), to which a fastening of the respective center piece element (18; 19; 36) is carried out via one of the center piece screw connections (10; 13), follow one another in the circumferential direction in the respective center piece element (18; 19; 36) and are designed alternately as through holes (22) and as threaded holes (23).

9. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the center piece elements (18, 19; 36) are detachably fastened to one another via the first center piece screw connections (10) and / or via the second center piece screw connections (13).

10. Compensating coupling (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the middle piece elements (18, 19; 36) are in contact with one another at the form-fitting sections (26, 27; 37, 38) projecting opposite the end faces when fastened to one another and are prestressed against one another via the first middle piece screw connections (10) and / or via the second middle piece screw connections (13), wherein a contact surface defined by the contact of the form-fitting sections between the middle piece elements (18, 19; 36) is designed to be so large that, during the prestress, a nominal torque to be transmitted by the compensating coupling (1) can be transmitted frictionally between the middle piece elements (18, 19; 36).

11. Compensating coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connecting flange (2) is connected to the first elastic compensating element (4) via first flange screw connections (7), wherein the second elastic compensating element (5) is connected to the second connecting flange (3) via second flange screw connections (15).

12. Compensating coupling (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center piece elements (18, 19; 36) are designed identically to one another.

13. Drive train of a rail vehicle, comprising a compensating coupling according to one or more of claims 1 to 12.

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