Disc Spring Separator Drainage for Freeze-Resistant Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disc spring assemblies in applications like gearboxes and clutches are prone to water accumulation between stacked disc springs, which can lead to freezing and failure in harsh environmental conditions, such as high altitudes, due to the formation of cavities between the springs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plurality of drainage passages in the radially outer portion of the separator disc, arranged circumferentially and extending axially, to allow liquid to drain from the cavities formed between the disc springs, either through rotation or gravity, thereby preventing water accumulation and potential freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If disc springs are arranged back to back in an alternating fashion to form a stack, then the structural integrity and load distribution are improved, but cavities are formed between adjacent disc springs which allow water or liquids to accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The separator disc is divided into a radially inner web portion and a radially outer rim portion, with drainage passages formed in the rim portion. This segmentation allows the separator disc to simultaneously maintain structural support function and provide drainage capability, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and water accumulation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator disc is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent disc springs. This separator disc serves dual functions: maintaining the alternating back-to-back arrangement for structural integrity while providing drainage passages to prevent water accumulation in the cavities formed by the spring arrangement.
2Reliability
If drainage passages are added to the separator disc to prevent water accumulation, then the reliability in harsh environments is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator disc is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it separates adjacent disc springs to maintain structural arrangement, provides drainage passages to prevent water accumulation, and maintains mechanical support. This multi-functionality improves reliability without requiring additional separate components, thus avoiding excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is merged into the separator disc structure itself rather than being a separate component. The drainage passages are formed directly in the radially outer rim portion of the separator disc, combining the separation and drainage functions into a single integrated component, thereby improving reliability while minimizing complexity increase.
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 drainage passages effectively mitigate the risk of water accumulation and freezing, ensuring the reliability and performance of disc spring assemblies in various applications by allowing liquids to escape, thus preventing unit failure.
Implementation Method 1
allow liquid to drain from the cavities formed between the disc springs, either through rotation or gravity
Implementation Method 2
allow liquid to drain from the cavities formed between the disc springs, either through rotation or gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A disc spring assembly (2) comprises a disc spring support (4) having a radially outer surface (12) and a plurality of annular disc springs (6, 8, 10) arranged in a stack over the radially outer surface (12) of the disc spring support (4). Each annular disc spring (6, 8, 10) comprises a substantially frusto-conical or dished shape and has a radially inner edge region (16) mounted on the radially outer surface (12) of the disc spring support (4) and a radially outer edge region (18). The assembly further comprises at least one separator disc (20) arranged between two axially adjacent disc springs (6, 8). The separator disc (20) has a radially outer portion (30) having opposed axially facing surfaces (32) for receiving the radially outer edge regions (18) of the two axially adjacent disc springs (6, 8). The radially outer portion (30) of the separator disc (20) further has at least one drainage passage (34) formed therein for allowing drainage of a liquid from a cavity (24) defined between the axially adjacent disc springs (6, 8).