Cable Winch Drum Layout With Non-Circular Drive Shaft Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable pull devices have fixed cable drum positions and require complex bearing forces, making them inflexible and heavy due to circular drive shafts that also support structural loads, limiting adaptability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cable drums are designed with a carrier or flange aligned normal to the drive shaft, featuring a profile complementary to a non-circular drive shaft profile, allowing for simple torque transmission and adaptable positioning through modular, non-circular profiles and articulated connections, reducing the drive shaft's load-bearing responsibilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a circular drive shaft is used to transmit torque and support bearing forces, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the device complexity and weight increase due to complex bearings and couplings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using a non-circular drive shaft profile (such as square, hexagonal, or octagonal) instead of a conventional circular profile. This asymmetric shape inherently prevents relative rotation between the drive shaft and cable drum, eliminating the need for complex bearings and couplings to maintain rotational alignment. The non-circular profile transmits both torque and positioning functions simultaneously, reducing device complexity while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-circular drive shaft profile serves multiple functions: it transmits torque from the drive device to the cable drum, maintains precise rotational positioning without relative rotation, and provides mechanical coupling without requiring separate bearing assemblies. This multi-functionality consolidates several components into one, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sufficient structural strength.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cable drums are fixed at predetermined positions on the drive shaft, then the structural stability is maintained, but the adaptability to different local conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cable drum positioning adjustable rather than fixed. The cable drums can be moved along the non-circular drive shaft to different positions and locked in place, allowing the system to adapt to different local conditions and requirements. This dynamic positioning capability maintains structural stability when drums are locked while providing adaptability to various configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft is designed as a modular system with segmented sections that can accommodate cable drums at different positions. The non-circular profile is maintained throughout the segmented sections, ensuring continuous torque transmission and positional alignment even when drums are repositioned. This segmentation allows flexible configuration while maintaining overall structural stability.
3Productivity
If the drive shaft supports both torque transmission and bearing forces, then the functional completeness is achieved, but the weight of the drive shaft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-circular drive shaft profile eliminates the need for heavy bearing assemblies by preventing relative rotation through its asymmetric geometry. The shape itself provides the positioning function that would otherwise require separate bearing components, significantly reducing the weight of the moving parts while maintaining complete functionality for both torque transmission and positional support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the bearing function from the drive shaft by using the non-circular profile to inherently prevent relative rotation. The positioning and support functions are taken out of the traditional bearing-coupling system and integrated into the drive shaft's geometric design, reducing the weight of the drive shaft while maintaining functional completeness.
Data Source
Figure 1~3c
Figure 4~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The device has hoisting drums (3) arranged adjacent to each other and coupled with a common drive device (5) over a common drive shaft. The drive shaft has a profile that is different from a circular profile. The profile acts together with a complementary profiling of the hoisting drums and/or the drive device. The drive shaft is formed from rod-like elements (6) that are coupled with the hoisting drums. The hoisting drums are supported at a holder and/or a guide (2) in a movable manner. A hinge connection between the hoisting drums is integrated into the drive shaft or the rod-like elements.