Elastic Splined Drive Shaft for Turbomachine Torque Oscillation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid turbomachines experience mechanical clearances and torque oscillations in drive shafts due to alternation between energy injection and extraction phases, leading to loud rattling noises and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A drive shaft design with a male cylindrical body featuring first, second, and third splined sections, each with alternating teeth and grooves, and biased by elastic elements to angularly offset teeth, reducing mechanical play and torque oscillations through elastic means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional drive shaft with single splined connection is used, then the structure is simple, but mechanical clearances and torque oscillations occur during alternating energy injection and extraction phases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is divided into multiple splined sections (first, second, and third splined sections) with alternating teeth and grooves. Each section can move independently within its spline engagement, allowing the system to maintain multiple contact points simultaneously. This segmentation distributes the mechanical loads and reduces the impact of clearance in any single section, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely complex redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic elements including elastic means (springs) that allow the splined sections to move axially and angularly in response to alternating torque loads. The second and third splined sections are equipped with elastic means that enable them to shift position during energy injection and extraction phases, maintaining continuous contact and reducing mechanical play. This dynamic adaptation improves reliability under varying operational conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple splined sections with elastic means are added, then mechanical play and torque oscillations are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is divided into multiple splined sections (first, second, and third splined sections) with alternating teeth and grooves. Each section can move independently within its spline engagement, allowing the system to maintain multiple contact points simultaneously. This segmentation distributes the mechanical loads and reduces the impact of clearance in any single section, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely complex redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic elements including elastic means (springs) that allow the splined sections to move axially and angularly in response to alternating torque loads. The second and third splined sections are equipped with elastic means that enable them to shift position during energy injection and extraction phases, maintaining continuous contact and reducing mechanical play. This dynamic adaptation improves reliability under varying operational conditions.
3Reliability
If splined sections are angularly offset, then torque oscillations are minimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetric angular offset between adjacent splined sections. The second splined section is angularly offset by a first angle relative to the first section, and the third section is offset by a second angle relative to the second section. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when one section experiences maximum clearance, adjacent sections are positioned to compensate, thereby reducing torque oscillations. The asymmetric design is more tolerant to manufacturing variations compared to symmetric arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic elements including elastic means (springs) that allow the splined sections to move axially and angularly in response to alternating torque loads. The second and third splined sections are equipped with elastic means that enable them to shift position during energy injection and extraction phases, maintaining continuous contact and reducing mechanical play. This dynamic adaptation improves reliability under varying operational conditions.
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 design effectively reduces mechanical play and torque oscillations, enhancing the mechanical robustness of drive shafts under alternating power phases, minimizing noise and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
the second section being biased by an elastic element from a first position to a second position in which the second teeth are angularly offset relative to the first teeth
Data Source
AI summary
A drive shaft includes a male cylindrical body, a first splined section, and a second splined section. The first section is arranged coaxially around the male cylindrical body and has first longitudinal splines formed by alternating first teeth and first grooves. The first section is rotationally secured to the male cylindrical body. The second splined section is arranged coaxially around the male cylindrical body and has second longitudinal splines formed by alternating second teeth and second grooves. The second section is biased by an elastic element from a first position to a second position in which the second teeth are angularly offset relative to the first teeth.