Machine Tool Adjusting Assembly With Releasable Damper Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gear cutting machines experience unwanted vibrations due to the oscillating system of numerous components, leading to manufacturing deviations such as ripples on tooth flanks, causing disruptive high-frequency noises, which are particularly problematic in electric vehicles where engine noise is minimized.

Innovation Solution

A motor-driven adjustment device with an auxiliary body and vibration dampers that form a rigid connection to efficiently dampen vibrations between the base body and movable body, allowing for effective damping during machining while minimizing additional load during rapid positioning movements by releasing the connection between the auxiliary body and base body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If vibration dampers are activated to dampen vibrations during machining, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the additional mass and inertia hinder rapid positioning movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidpositioning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration damper system is designed to be dynamically switchable between active and inactive states. During rapid positioning movements, the auxiliary body is decoupled from the movable body, eliminating additional mass and inertia. During machining operations, the auxiliary body is coupled to provide vibration damping. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and positioning speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into a main movable body and a separate auxiliary body with vibration dampers. The auxiliary body can be independently coupled or decoupled from the movable body via detachable connections. This segmentation allows the vibration damping function to be activated only when needed, preventing the auxiliary mass from hindering rapid positioning movements while providing manufacturing precision during machining.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the auxiliary body is permanently fixed to the base body to maximize vibration damping, then stability is improved, but rapid positioning movements are hindered due to increased mass and inertia

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidpositioning speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the auxiliary body and movable body is designed to be detachable rather than permanent. This allows the system to switch between a stable configured state (auxiliary body coupled) during machining and a agile state (auxiliary body decoupled) during rapid positioning. The dynamic nature of the connection resolves the contradiction between stability and positioning speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary body with vibration dampers is designed as a separable module that can be attached to or detached from the movable body. This modular segmentation enables the system to optimize its mass distribution dynamically - using the full mass for stability during machining, and reducing effective mass for rapid positioning by detaching the auxiliary body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If vibration dampers are always active to suppress vibrations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration dampers operate periodically rather than continuously - they are activated only during machining operations when vibration suppression is needed for manufacturing precision. During rapid positioning movements or idle periods, the dampers are deactivated. This periodic operation pattern resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and energy consumption by applying damping only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration damping system is dynamically controlled based on operational requirements. The control system activates the vibration dampers during machining operations and deactivates them during rapid positioning or idle periods. This dynamic control strategy ensures manufacturing precision is maintained during critical operations while minimizing energy consumption during non-critical phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution significantly reduces vibrations and manufacturing deviations, minimizing the occurrence of 'ghost frequencies' and improving the overall quality of gear cutting by effectively damping vibrations without hindering rapid positioning movements.

Implementation Method 1

at least one vibration damper (11) arranged between the auxiliary body (10) and the movable body (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3840914B1Adjusting device for a machine tool with a reduced tendency to vibrate
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 REISHAUER AG
  • EP3840914B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3840914B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3840914B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjusting device for a machine tool, having a main part (1), a movable body (2) which can be moved relative to the main part along a movement axis (X), and a drive (3) in order to move the movable body relative to the main part. The aim of the invention is to effectively damp vibrations between the movable body and the main part, in particular stray vibrations, while still allowing quick positioning movements of the movable body relative to the main part. This is achieved in that the adjusting device has an auxiliary element (10) which can be releasably fixed to the main part and can be moved together with the movable body relative to the main part in the released state. The adjusting device additionally has at least one vibration damper (11) which is arranged between the auxiliary element and the movable body.