Elastomeric Drive Coupler for Blender Vibration and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional blenders produce excessive noise and vibrations due to the rotation of blades, which can be unpleasant for users and reduce the efficiency of the blending process, especially when handling thick ingredients or high-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
A drive coupler assembly is introduced, featuring a drive socket that receives a shaft of a blade assembly and incorporates an elastomeric material between the drive socket and the motor's drive shaft, which absorbs and reduces vibrations, thereby isolating the drive socket from the drive shaft and other components of the blender system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an enclosure is provided around the container to contain noise, then noise reduction is achieved, but the size of the blender increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive shaft and the blade assembly. This elastomeric material absorbs and dampens vibrations and noise at the source, eliminating the need for external noise-enclosing structures and avoiding increased blender size.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material converts the harmful vibrations and noise generated by the blade assembly into beneficial damping effects. By absorbing these vibrations, the elastomeric material reduces noise and prevents vibration-related damage without requiring additional space for noise containment.
2Power
If the blade assembly is directly coupled to the drive shaft, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but vibrations and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material serves as a mediator between the drive shaft and the blade assembly, maintaining power transmission while filtering out harmful vibrations and noise. This intermediary layer allows torque to be transmitted effectively while dampening unwanted mechanical vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material changes the mechanical parameters of the connection between the drive shaft and blade assembly. It introduces controlled flexibility and damping characteristics, altering the stiffness and vibration transmission properties while maintaining adequate power transmission capability.
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 elastomeric material effectively reduces noise and vibrations during blending operations, enhancing the efficiency and user experience by minimizing misalignment issues and maintaining sound and vibration dampening properties while providing a stiffened coupler.
Implementation Method 1
The elastomeric insert may absorb and reduce vibrations between the drive shaft and the blade assembly
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric material effectively reduces noise and vibrations during blending operations
Data Source
AI summary
A drive coupling for a blending system is attachable to a drive shaft of a motor. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive coupling. The drive coupling includes a drive socket that receives a shaft of a blade assembly, and an elastomeric insert disposed between the drive socket and the drive shaft of the motor. The elastomeric insert absorbs vibrations.