Coupling Element With Segmented Grooves For Shaft Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-insulated medium-voltage switchgear faces challenges in efficiently transmitting rotary movements between shafts with radial offset compensation, as conventional couplings are either unsuitable or overly complex for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
A coupling element comprising two coaxially arranged, rigidly connected coupling disks with identical, rotationally symmetrical grooves and counterparts that allow for rotational and tilting play, enabling efficient power transmission and tolerance compensation between shafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional couplings (Oldham or cross-slide) are used to compensate for radial offset between shafts, then shaft misalignment compensation is achieved, but device complexity increases and the coupling becomes unnecessarily complex for certain applications
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is segmented into two coupling disks with multiple grooves each, allowing independent movement and rotation of each disk while maintaining power transmission. This segmentation enables the coupling to accommodate shaft misalignment through the relative movement of the disks and their grooves, while keeping each individual component simple in structure
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a single-plane arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration with two spaced-apart coupling disks. The grooves in each disk can move radially and the disks can rotate relative to each other, adding dimensional freedom to compensate for shaft misalignment without increasing in-plane complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If couplings with tolerance compensation are designed for specific application scenarios, then application optimization is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element design with two coupling disks featuring multiple grooves serves multiple functions: power transmission, shaft misalignment compensation, and rotational movement transmission. This multi-functional design allows a single coupling type to be used across different application scenarios without requiring custom-designed couplings for each specific case, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining application optimization
3Power
If multiple grooves are provided in coupling disks for power transmission, then power transmission capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power transmission function is segmented across multiple grooves in each coupling disk, distributing the load across several contact points between the grooves and counterparts. This segmentation allows each individual groove to carry less load, reducing the precision requirements for each groove's positioning while maintaining overall high power transmission capability through the combined effect of multiple grooves
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling element (1) for coupling two shafts, which is formed with two rigidly connected, spaced coupling disks (2, 3). The coupling disks (2, 3) are arranged parallel to each other and each have a plurality of grooves (21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34) arranged around a disk center for receiving protrusions (41, 42, 43, 44) of a counterpart (4) in order to transmit force between the coupling disk and the counterpart. Furthermore, the coupling disks are arranged coaxially with respect to the centers (5) thereof for the purpose of coupling the two shafts.