Brush Disk Flange Coupling for Tolerance-Compensated Centering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling devices for brush disks in floor cleaning machines often suffer from misalignment due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to annoying noises and potential damage, as the disk is not consistently centered with respect to the machine-side flange during fastening.

Innovation Solution

The coupling device incorporates guide sections on the brush disk's coupling sections that engage with mating sections on the flange, ensuring better axial and radial alignment, particularly through the use of wedges or chamfers that come into positive locking engagement, allowing for physical contact and secure positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coupling sections are inserted axially into insertion recesses and engaged behind by rotating the brush disk, then the brush disk can be detachably fastened to the flange, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment and the brush disk is not consistently centered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide sections are designed to engage with the flange before the coupling sections are fully inserted axially. This preliminary engagement guides the brush disk into correct alignment during the insertion process, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring consistent centering without requiring high precision manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide sections act as intermediary elements between the coupling sections and the flange. They provide a guiding interface that mediates the alignment process, allowing the coupling sections to engage properly even when manufacturing tolerances exist, thus ensuring reliable fastening without requiring precise manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the brush disk is not centered with respect to the flange, then manufacturing tolerances are accommodated, but annoying noises and damage to the brush disk occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetolerance accommodationVSAvoidnoise and damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide sections establish correct alignment and centering of the brush disk relative to the flange before the coupling sections are fully engaged. This preliminary centering action prevents misalignment during operation, eliminating the source of noise and potential damage while still accommodating manufacturing tolerances through the guiding mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If guide sections are added to the coupling sections, then better alignment and centering of the brush disk is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidcoupling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide sections are merged with the coupling sections to form an integrated coupling assembly. This combination achieves better alignment and centering without requiring separate guiding components, thus improving precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2665388B1Coupling device comprising a brush disk and a flange
Publication Date: 2014.11.12 SUDDEUT BURSTEN UND KUNSTABRIK EUGEN GUTMANN
  • EP2665388B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2665388B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2665388B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a brush disk for a floor cleaning machine, comprising coupling sections which, in an insertion position, are axially inserted into insertion recesses on a flange provided on the machine and, when reaching a securing position, grip retaining sections on the flange as the brush disk is twisted in order to couple the brush disk to the flange. At least one coupling section has a guiding section which engages with a mating section provided on the retaining section on the flange when the brush disk is twisted. The invention further relates to an associated flange and an associated coupling device.