Connecting Rod Coupling With Ball Joints for Shaft Misalignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings face challenges in maintaining efficient torque transmission and minimizing internal forces when dealing with significant torque and various types of disalignments between shafts, such as those found in wind turbines, due to limitations in universal joints and previous coupling designs.
Innovation Solution
A rigid connecting rod coupling with a triangular prism spacer and ball joints, featuring a 60° circumferential phase shift and an additional axial connecting rod, allows for adaptable alignment compensation and minimal internal force generation, ensuring effective torque transmission without backlash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If universal joints are used to allow significant angular and radial disalignments, then adaptability to disalignments is improved, but output speed varies and power transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into multiple rigid connecting rods (at least three) arranged circumferentially around the shaft, each rod independently transmitting torque. This segmentation allows the system to handle higher power while maintaining adaptability to disalignments through the distributed rigid connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the traditional single-plane universal joint to a three-dimensional arrangement of multiple connecting rods distributed circumferentially around the shaft axis. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions enables both high power transmission and accommodation of angular/radial disalignments simultaneously.
2Power
If rigid connecting rods are used to eliminate backlash, then torque transmission efficiency is improved, but ability to compensate disalignments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each rigid connecting rod serves multiple functions: it transmits torque efficiently (eliminating backlash) while simultaneously accommodating angular and radial disalignments through its articulated ball joint connections. The entire assembly of multiple rods provides universal adaptability to various misalignment conditions while maintaining rigid torque transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint connections at the ends of the rigid connecting rods provide dynamic adaptability, allowing the rigid rods to adjust their orientation in response to disalignments while maintaining rigid torque transmission. This dynamic capability enables the rigid structure to compensate for misalignments without introducing backlash.
3Power
If multiple connecting rods are arranged circumferentially to increase power transmission, then device complexity increases, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting rods are arranged asymmetrically in terms of their functional roles while maintaining symmetric circumferential distribution for balance. The asymmetric ball joint connections allow each rod to independently accommodate disalignments, reducing the need for precise circumferential positioning while maintaining high power transmission capability.
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 solution provides a compact and efficient torque transmission system capable of handling significant torque and various disalignments, maintaining high rigidity and minimizing internal forces, thus addressing the limitations of previous coupling technologies.
Implementation Method 1
all of the connecting rods on both ends being articulated in ball joints used to facilitate the rotation thereof in any direction
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible coupling between two shafts. The flexible coupling includes a spacer element inserted between an actuating shaft or a drive shaft and an actuated shaft or a load shaft. The flexible coupling includes an assembly of articulated connecting rods at both points of connection. The articulated connecting rods respectively linking the two elements to be connected. All of the connecting rods on both ends being articulated in ball joints used to facilitate the rotation of the connecting rods in any direction.