Double-Tapered Mount for Oscillating Shaft Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oscillating shafts with high speeds or loads present challenges in connection due to differing materials, leading to complex and costly attachment methods that are difficult to remove or replace, and often result in loose connections over time.
Innovation Solution
A double-tapered mount system featuring a collar with opposing tapered surfaces that mate with corresponding apertures on mating pieces, ensuring the shaft is securely perpendicular during oscillation, and optionally incorporating springs for damping, allowing for secure attachment and easy disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If complex attachment methods (welding, riveting, bolting) are used to connect oscillating shafts under high load and speed, then connection strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into two separate half-collars that can be independently positioned and secured to the shaft. This segmentation allows for easier installation and removal without requiring complex welding or riveting processes, while still providing strong connection through the tapered interface between the collar and mating piece
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using traditional fastening methods where the fastener is driven into the shaft, this invention uses a tapered collar that is driven onto the shaft and locked by friction and geometric interference. The attachment method is inverted from active fastening (screws, rivets) to passive locking through tapered geometry and friction
2Strength
If traditional attachment methods are used for oscillating shafts, then connection strength is achieved, but ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The split collar design allows the collar to be opened into two halves for easy installation and removal from the shaft. This segmentation enables quick replacement during maintenance without requiring destructive removal methods like cutting welds or driving out rivets, while the tapered interface maintains strong connection during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The collar incorporates a tapered interface that creates a dynamic friction-based locking mechanism. During oscillating operation, the forces tend to tighten the connection, while during maintenance, the collar can be easily loosened and removed. This dynamic characteristic provides both strong operation and easy maintenance
3Adaptability or versatility
If differing materials are used for shaft and connected parts, then adaptability is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered interface creates a homogeneous contact surface between the collar and mating piece, distributing loads evenly across the interface. This homogeneous stress distribution prevents differential expansion and contraction issues that can arise with dissimilar materials, maintaining connection stability while allowing material versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered geometry transforms the connection parameters from rigid fixed-position to flexible friction-based positioning. This parameter change allows the connection to accommodate thermal expansion and material differences while maintaining reliable attachment through the tapered locking mechanism
4Manufacturing precision
If complex machining is performed to achieve secure attachment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The split collar can be manufactured as two simpler half-collars rather than one complex precision collar. This segmentation reduces machining complexity while the tapered interface geometry provides self-aligning features that maintain perpendicularity tolerance without requiring extremely precise machining of the entire assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered collar acts as an intermediary element that provides the precision interface between the shaft and mating piece. This intermediary absorbs the manufacturing tolerance requirements, allowing the shaft and mating piece to be manufactured with standard tolerances while the tapered collar ensures accurate perpendicularity through its geometry
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 double-tapered mount system provides a strong, secure, and easily maintainable connection with high perpendicularity tolerance, reducing the need for complex machining and minimizing heat-affected zones, while allowing for efficient field disassembly and reassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a collar, disposable around the shaft, and including first and second tapered outer surfaces that taper away from each other. The first mating piece has a first tapered aperture that is configured to mate with the first tapered outer surface of the collar.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount for a shaft includes a collar, disposable around the shaft, a first mating piece and a second mating piece. The collar includes first and second tapered outer surfaces that taper away from each other. The first mating piece has a first tapered aperture that is configured to mate with the first tapered outer surface of the collar. The second mating piece has a second tapered aperture configured to mate with the second tapered outer surface of the collar. The first and second mating pieces are adapted to be aligned such that when the collar is mated with the first and second mating pieces, the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the first mating piece.