Compact Hydraulic Tensioner With Nested Stud for Confined Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic tensioners face challenges in applications with limited space, particularly height constraints, and often require multiple components for assembly, which is undesirable in confined areas like wind turbine nacelles.
Innovation Solution
A compact, single-unit hydraulic tensioner design featuring a base, piston, and a threaded stud with a drive mechanism that allows rotational motion to extend the stud, minimizing height and components, utilizing a pressure space filled with fluid for tensioning and an air spring mechanism for retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a traditional hydraulic tensioner design is used, then the tensioning function is achieved, but the height is too large for confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is nested within the internal bore of the tensioner body when retracted, and extends outward when activated. This nesting arrangement allows the tensioner to maintain a compact height profile while providing sufficient stud length for engagement with the workpiece, directly resolving the contradiction between limited height and functional requirements in confined spaces
2Length of moving object
If multiple components are used to reduce height, then the height requirement is met, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates the stud, drive mechanism, and tensioning components into a single unified tensioner assembly that fits within one internal bore. This merging of components achieves the reduced height requirement without increasing assembly complexity, as the integrated design eliminates the need for multiple separate parts to be assembled in the confined application space
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
Enables tensioning in confined spaces with reduced height requirements and minimal components, providing efficient and space-saving functionality in applications like wind turbine nacelles.
Implementation Method 1
introduction of (e.g.) hydraulic fluid into the pressure space forces the piston and body apart along an axis
Implementation Method 2
the engagement of the exterior thread of the stud and the internal thread of the threaded component causing the stud to move along the axis as it rotates
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic tensioner (1), comprising: abase (2); a piston (3) mounted for sliding motion relative to the base (2), the base (2) and the piston (3) defining a pressure space (4) therebetween and being arranged to be urged apart along an axis (8) upon introduction of a fluid into the pressure space (4), the tensioner (1) having an internal bore (6) along the axis (8) having first and second ends along the axis and comprising a threaded component having an internally threaded portion (7) at the first end and coupled to the piston (3); the tensioner (1) further comprising: a threaded stud (10) having an exterior thread which engages the internally threaded portion (7) of the threaded component; and a drive mechanism (12) arranged to transmit rotational motion from the second end of the internal bore (9) to the threaded stud; the tensioner being arranged such that rotational motion applied to the drive mechanism (12) at the second end causes rotation of the stud (10) relative to the threaded component, with the engagement of the exterior thread of the stud (10) and the internal thread of the threaded component causing the stud to move along the axis as it rotates.