Elastic Centering Element for Wear-Free Rotor Shaft Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Balancing and measuring devices are sensitive to wear and often result in undesirable pressure points or running marks due to the use of ball bushings for centering, which can lead to inaccuracies and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A centering element with a radially elastic support area that provides a larger contact surface, allowing for more stable concentricity and compensating for minor dimensional deviations, reducing wear and manufacturing costs, and enabling precise and reproducible clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ball bushings are used as centering elements, then centering function is achieved, but wear and pressure marks occur on the coupling shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the contact geometry parameter from point contact (ball bushings) to surface contact (support area). The support area extends radially outward from the rotational axis, creating a distributed contact surface that reduces contact pressure and prevents wear marks while maintaining the centering function.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise manufacturing of coupling shaft is required to match receiving opening precision, then centering accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support area acts as an intermediary element between the coupling shaft and the receiving opening. Instead of requiring precise matching between these two components, the support area provides a compliant interface that accommodates manufacturing tolerances while ensuring accurate centering, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If larger contact area is used for centering, then stability and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support area is segmented into multiple distributed contact zones extending radially from the rotational axis. This segmentation provides both the necessary large contact area for stable centering and simplifies the structural implementation by using a modular, distributed approach rather than a complex monolithic structure.
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 solution ensures greater accuracy and faster clamping, reduces sensitivity to wear, and allows for the use of harder materials, while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, thus enhancing the stability and precision of the balancing and measuring device.
Implementation Method 1
the centering element has at least one support area that rests against the coupling shaft and is elastically springy in the radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a balancing or measuring device comprising a main body (2) which rotates about an axis of rotation (1) and includes an opening (3) for accommodating a coupling shaft (4) of a rotor (5), and comprising a centering element (6) for centering the rotor (5) in the opening (3). The centering element (6) includes at least one support zone (13, 16, 22, 25, 29) which rests against the coupling shaft (4) and is resilient in the radial direction.