Helicoidal Brush Drive Coupling for Axial Play Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed rotating brushes in hard floor cleaning devices experience undesirable vibrations and creep due to imbalances caused by axial play and increased clasping force, which affects their operational stability and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A drive coupling assembly with rotationally symmetrical drive surfaces that exert torque and axial force only when in use, featuring helicoidal surfaces to eliminate axial play and provide radial centering, preventing long-term creep and imbalances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the clasping force exerted on the brush by the axial spring mechanism is increased to suppress vibrations, then the brush mounting stability is improved, but the risk of creep during the device life span increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive coupling transitions from a static spring mechanism to a dynamic force generation system where axial force is produced only during rotation. The helicoidal drive surfaces convert rotational motion into dynamic axial clamping force, allowing the coupling to adapt its grasping force to operational conditions rather than maintaining constant high force that causes creep.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temporal parameter of force application - axial force is applied dynamically during rotation rather than statically at all times. The helicoidal surfaces create a phase-dependent force profile where axial clamping occurs during the drive phase and relaxes during idle periods, preventing cumulative creep while maintaining stability during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If an axial spring mechanism is used to take up axial play and fix the brush's axial position, then axial play elimination is improved, but long-term creep and imbalance development increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive coupling generates its own axial clamping force through the interaction of helicoidal drive surfaces during rotation. The system uses its operational motion to create the necessary axial force, eliminating the need for external spring mechanisms. The force is self-regulating and automatically adjusts to maintain precision without causing creep.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a drive coupling generates sufficient clasping force to eliminate axial play, then operational stability is improved, but the risk of creep during multiple-year life span increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axial clamping force is applied periodically during rotation cycles rather than continuously. The helicoidal drive surfaces engage and disengage in a periodic manner, creating pulsed axial force that eliminates play during operation but allows relaxation periods that prevent cumulative creep over the device's multi-year lifespan.
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 drive coupling assembly effectively stabilizes high-speed rotating brushes by eliminating axial play and preventing creep, ensuring reliable operation and extended device lifespan by generating forces only during rotation and centering the brush, thus reducing vibrations and imbalances.
Implementation Method 1
The drive surfaces of the coupling head and the first drive surfaces of the coupling member are configured such that driving the former in contact with the latter results in the exertion of both a torque and an axially directed force on the coupling member
Data Source
AI summary
Drive coupling assembly (50) for a high-speed rotating brush, comprising:—a coupling head (100) having a coupling head rotation axis (Lch) and including three drive surfaces (106) which are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical through 120° with respect to said coupling head rotation axis; and—a coupling member (200), having a coupling member rotation axis (Lcm) and including three first drive surfaces (210a) which are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical through 120° with respect to said coupling member rotation axis, wherein said coupling head (100) and said coupling member (200) are detachably couplable, such that, in a coupled condition, their rotational axes (Lch, Lcm) are aligned and the coupling head is rotatable to drive each of its drive surfaces (106) in contact with a respective first drive surface (210a) of the coupling member, to thereby exert both a torque and an axially directed force on the coupling member.