Annular Coupling Layout for Low-Wear Angular Misalignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing couplings face issues with long-term wear and friction losses due to substantial loads, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary stresses, especially when dealing with angular misalignment.

Innovation Solution

A coupling design featuring an inner member, an intermediate annular member, and an outer annular member, where the members are spaced apart to leave a gap between each other, and axles are used to transmit loads and allow for rotational movement, reducing friction and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If substantial loads are transmitted through contact between complementary surfaces, then the coupling can transmit axial loads, but long-term wear occurs on the surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial load transmissionVSAvoidlong-term wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A rubber ring element is introduced as an intermediary between the complementary spherical surfaces. This rubber ring transmits the axial load through its own material properties rather than through direct contact between the hard surfaces, thereby eliminating wear on the spherical surfaces while maintaining load transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The direct mechanical contact between complementary spherical surfaces is replaced by a flexible rubber ring element that transmits loads through elastic deformation. This substitution eliminates the wear mechanism inherent in direct surface contact while maintaining the coupling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Force

If contact between complementary surfaces is used to transmit loads, then axial load transmission is achieved, but friction losses reduce efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial load transmissionVSAvoidfriction losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The direct mechanical contact between complementary spherical surfaces is replaced by a flexible rubber ring element that transmits loads through elastic deformation. This substitution eliminates the wear mechanism inherent in direct surface contact while maintaining the coupling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

A rubber ring element is introduced as an intermediary between the complementary spherical surfaces. This rubber ring transmits the axial load through its own material properties rather than through direct contact between the hard surfaces, thereby eliminating wear on the spherical surfaces while maintaining load transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a rubber ring element is used to absorb engine pulses through out of plane twist, then misaligned shafts are coupled, but imbalance creates extra forces and stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular misalignment capabilityVSAvoidnoise and vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rubber ring is given a spherical or curved cross-section that complements the spherical surfaces. This curvature allows the rubber ring to deform elastically in response to misalignment while maintaining contact with both spherical surfaces, enabling angular misalignment capability without the imbalance problems of planar twist designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the geometric parameters of the rubber ring, specifically giving it a spherical or curved cross-section rather than a planar shape. This parameter change allows the rubber ring to accommodate angular misalignment through elastic deformation while maintaining balance and avoiding the harmful forces associated with out-of-plane twisting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250180076A1coupling

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 PUNK COUPLINGS

AI summary

A coupling has an inner member and an outer annular member and an intermediate annular member which when aligned share a common axis and have a common centre on the common axis. The inner and the intermediate annular member are constrained to rotate, one with respect to the other about a second axis perpendicular to the common axis. The intermediate annular member and the outer annular member are constrained to rotate, one with respect to the other about a third axis perpendicular to the common axis and the second axis. The members are spaced apart to leave a gap between each of the members.