Claw Clutch Decoupling for Spring Charging Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioning gears for spring storage drives in circuit breakers fail to efficiently decouple the intermediate shaft from the freewheel and tensioning wheel in the tensioned state, leading to unnecessary loading and potential wear on components.
Innovation Solution
A tensioning gear with a claw clutch mechanism that couples and decouples the freewheel to the intermediate shaft, featuring a first clutch jaw with claws that synchronize with a second clutch jaw, allowing for rotational synchronization and decoupling, thereby preventing force transmission and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the intermediate shaft remains coupled to the freewheel and tensioning wheel during tensioning, then the tensioning motor can continuously drive the storage spring, but the intermediate shaft and tensioning mechanism components are subjected to unnecessary forces and wear when the spring is already tensioned
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw coupling is designed to automatically decouple the intermediate shaft from the freewheel when the storage spring reaches its tensioned state. The first clutch shoe has axial displacement capability that allows it to separate from the second clutch shoe when the storage spring is fully tensioned, preventing further force transmission and reducing wear on intermediate shaft components
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static permanent connection to a dynamic conditional connection. The jaw coupling can switch between coupled and decoupled states based on the tensioning status of the storage spring, allowing the system to adapt its connectivity to operational requirements
2Device complexity
If a permanent coupling between the intermediate shaft and freewheel is used, then the structure is simple, but the components cannot be relieved of load in the tensioned state
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into separable components: the first clutch shoe connected to the intermediate shaft and the second clutch shoe connected to the freewheel. These segmented parts can engage or disengage independently through axial displacement, allowing selective force transmission while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw coupling acts as an intermediary element between the intermediate shaft and the freewheel-tensioning wheel assembly. It mediates the force transmission by allowing controlled engagement and disengagement, protecting the intermediate shaft from excessive forces while enabling torque transmission during tensioning
3Reliability
If the first clutch shoe is axially displaceable to enable decoupling, then the intermediate shaft can be relieved of load, but the coupling mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The axial displacement function is merged into the first clutch shoe itself, which is designed with the capability to move axially relative to the intermediate shaft. This integration eliminates the need for separate displacement mechanisms, achieving load relief functionality while minimizing additional structural complexity
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 claw clutch mechanism effectively relieves load on intermediate shaft components, prevents wear, and allows for efficient tensioning and storage of spring energy by decoupling in the tensioned state, enhancing the operational reliability of spring storage drives.
Implementation Method 1
For the other of the two adjacent first claws, the second claw forms a ramp on which this first claw can slide around the axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first when the first clutch shoe rotates relative to the second clutch shoe
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a charging mechanism (1) for charging a stored-energy spring of a stored-energy spring mechanism. Said charging mechanism (1) comprises a charging gear (9) coupled to the stored-energy spring, an intermediate shaft (2) coupled to the charging gear (9), an idler gear (4) that can be driven by a charging motor, a freewheel (3) coupled to the idler gear (4), and a dog clutch (20) that couples the freewheel (3) to the intermediate shaft (2) in order to charge the stored-energy spring and uncouples same from the intermediate shaft (2) in the charged state of the stored-energy spring. The dog clutch (20) has a first clutch block (12) coupled to the intermediate shaft (2) for conjoint rotation, and a second clutch block (11) connected to the freewheel (3). The first clutch block (12) can be displaced along an axis of rotation of the intermediate shaft (2) between two end positions and, in an intermediate position between the end positions can be freely rotated only in a direction of rotation with respect to the second clutch block (11).