Flexible Diaphragm Coupling for Angular and Axial Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible couplings for mechanical power transmissions, such as universal joints and gear couplings, face limitations in accommodating both angular misalignment and axial offset, often requiring lubrication and periodic replacement, while disk couplings are less effective in tolerating misalignment and mismatch.
Innovation Solution
A flexible coupling design featuring a splined member and flanged member fixed to a flexible diaphragm body, which axially shifts to accommodate misalignment and offset, reducing equivalent cyclic stress and axial force through deformation, allowing for compact packaging within limited spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If universal joints are used to accommodate large angular misalignment, then angular misalignment capability is improved, but axial mismatch capability deteriorates and lubrication is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane element with radially extending lobes that can deform elastically to accommodate both angular misalignment and axial offset between shafts. This flexible membrane replaces the rigid contacting surfaces of universal joints, eliminating the need for lubrication while providing superior adaptability to both angular and axial mismatches.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane's ability to change its geometric parameters (shape, volume, lobe configuration) allows it to adapt to varying degrees of angular misalignment and axial offset. The membrane deforms elastically under load, changing its physical state to accommodate the misalignment conditions that would require lubrication in conventional universal joints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gear couplings are used to accommodate large axial mismatch, then axial mismatch capability is improved, but angular misalignment capability deteriorates and lubrication is required
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane element with its elastic lobes provides simultaneous accommodation of axial mismatch and angular misalignment through elastic deformation, replacing the gear-based mechanical coupling that requires lubrication and has limited angular capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane dynamically adapts its shape and configuration in response to combined axial and angular loads, allowing the coupling to handle both types of misalignment simultaneously whereas gear couplings are optimized primarily for axial mismatch with limited angular capability.
3Reliability
If disk couplings are used to eliminate lubrication requirement, then maintenance requirement is improved, but angular misalignment and axial mismatch tolerance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane element provides enhanced adaptability compared to rigid disk couplings by using elastic deformation of lobes to accommodate angular and axial misalignment, while maintaining the lubrication-free operation that eliminates periodic replacement requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling combines the flexible membrane element with driving and driven shafts to create a composite structure that achieves both the maintenance-free operation of disk couplings and superior misalignment accommodation through the elastic properties of the membrane material.
4Adaptability or versatility
If flexible coupling accommodates both angular misalignment and axial offset, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is segmented into multiple lobes that can deform independently, allowing the single membrane element to accommodate both angular and axial misalignment through distributed elastic deformation rather than requiring a complex assembly of multiple rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of accommodating angular misalignment and axial offset into a single flexible membrane element, eliminating the need for separate universal joints or gear couplings and thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
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 flexible coupling effectively transmits torque while minimizing wear and extending service life by reducing axial force and cyclic stress, enabling its use in space-constrained applications like aircraft flight control systems without the need for lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible coupling design featuring a splined member and flanged member fixed to a flexible diaphragm body, which axially shifts to accommodate misalignment and offset, reducing equivalent cyclic stress and axial force through deformation
Data Source
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AI summary
A flexible coupling (100) includes a flexible diaphragm body (102) having a first end and a second end. A member (108) is fixed to the first end of the flexible diaphragm body (102). A splined member (110) is fixed to the second end of the flexible diaphragm body (102). The splined member (110) is configured to shift relative to a rotatable member rotatably fixed thereto in response to axial displacement of rotatable members interconnected by the flexible coupling (100). The ratio of inner diameter to the outer diameter is selected to allow for packaging the flexible coupling (100) in a confined space.