Contoured Spring Spacer Coupling for Axial Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pump spacer couplings lack flexibility to accommodate axial misalignments and variations in shaft alignment, limiting their ability to transmit torque and axial loads effectively across a range of axial movements.
Innovation Solution
A spring spacer coupling design featuring contoured ends on both the drive and driven hubs, which allow axial movement and flexibility, enabling the transmission of torque and axial loads while accommodating misalignments by using a combination of drive and driven hub flanges connected via bolts, allowing for adjustable axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional pump spacer couplings are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the coupling lacks flexibility to accommodate axial misalignments and variations in shaft alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer coupling incorporates contoured ends on both the drive hub and driven hub that enable dynamic axial movement. The contoured surfaces allow the hubs to move axially relative to each other while maintaining torque transmission, providing flexibility to accommodate misalignments without requiring a completely complex redesign of the coupling structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the hub ends by creating contoured surfaces with specific profiles. These contoured ends have varying radii and angles that allow controlled axial movement while maintaining structural integrity. This parameter modification enables the coupling to adapt to misalignments without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed spacer couplings are used, then the manufacturing and assembly process is straightforward, but the coupling cannot accommodate variations in shaft alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured ends are designed to allow automatic self-adjustment during assembly. When the drive and driven hubs are assembled with the contoured ends facing each other, they can naturally accommodate alignment variations through their contoured surfaces, eliminating the need for complex adjustment procedures or specialized assembly tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured ends provide self-aligning functionality where the geometry of the contoured surfaces guides the hubs into proper alignment during assembly. This self-service mechanism reduces the skill level required for assembly and eliminates the need for external alignment tools or procedures, maintaining ease of operation while improving adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid spacer coupling is used, then torque transmission is efficient, but the coupling cannot allow for axial movement to accommodate misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured ends are designed with specific local geometric qualities that enable axial movement in the radial direction while maintaining torque transmission capability. The contoured surfaces have varying thickness and curvature that allow controlled deformation and movement without compromising the overall structural integrity or torque transmission reliability of the coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer coupling may incorporate composite material construction where different materials with complementary properties are used. The contoured ends might use materials with appropriate elastic moduli that allow controlled axial deformation while maintaining strength, creating a composite structure that provides both movement capability and reliable torque transmission.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spacer couplings with fixed adjustment increments are used, then the structure is simplified, but the dynamic range of rotor movement under load is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured ends provide continuous dynamic adjustment capability rather than fixed discrete increments. The smooth contoured surfaces allow the hubs to move continuously in the axial direction to accommodate varying load conditions and misalignments, providing a broad dynamic range of movement without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple discrete adjustment positions.
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 spring spacer coupling provides enhanced axial flexibility, allowing for a broader dynamic range of rotor movement under load and accommodating misalignments without being limited to fixed adjustment increments, thus improving the coupling of drive and driven shafts.
Implementation Method 1
A spring spacer coupling design featuring contoured ends on both the drive and driven hubs, which allow axial movement and flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
Devices to couple a drive hub to a driven hub. The devices may comprise a drive hub contoured end connected to a first end of a spacer column and to a spacer drive hub flange. A portion of the drive hub contoured end may project radially out from the spacer column with a first contoured side and a first flat side and may allow movement in an axial direction and transmit torque and an axial load. The devices may comprise a driven hub contoured end connected to a second end of the spacer column and to a spacer driven hub flange. A portion of the driven hub contoured end may project radially out from the spacer column with a second contoured side and a second flat side and may allow movement in an axial direction and transmit torque and an axial load.