Flexible Coupling With Offset Disks for Torque and Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art flexible couplings face a trade-off between torsional stiffness, torque capacity, and misalignment tolerance, where high stiffness and torque capacity compromise misalignment capacity, and vice versa, limiting their applicability and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A flexible coupling design featuring unitized circular disks with axially spaced and rotationally offset spacer portions that provide both spacing and joining means, allowing for improved flexibility and strength through brazing, welding, riveting, or molding, enabling high torsional stiffness and torque capacity while accommodating large misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If flexible couplings are designed for high torsional stiffness and large torque capacity, then torque transmission capability is improved, but misalignment capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible coupling is divided into multiple discrete flexible elements (bellows, diaphragms, or discs) that are segmented along the coupling body. Each segment can independently deform to accommodate misalignment while maintaining overall structural integrity for torque transmission. This segmentation allows the coupling to handle both high torque and large misalignments simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible couplings are designed for large misalignment capacity, then adaptability is improved, but torsional stiffness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the flexible coupling are designed with different mechanical properties. The flexible elements (bellows, diaphragms, or discs) are engineered with specific local geometries that provide high flexibility in radial and axial directions for misalignment accommodation, while maintaining sufficient torsional stiffness through optimized wall thickness, material selection, and structural reinforcement in the torque transmission path.
3Strength
If flexible couplings are designed for high torsional stiffness, then torque capacity is improved, but life expectancy deteriorates when subjected to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible coupling incorporates dynamically adaptable flexible elements that can adjust their deformation characteristics based on operating conditions. The bellows, diaphragms, or discs are designed to elastically deform under misalignment conditions, distributing stress dynamically across multiple elements rather than concentrating it in rigid components. This dynamic flexibility reduces fatigue loading and extends service life while maintaining high torsional stiffness during normal operation.
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 achieves enhanced torsional stiffness and torque capacity while allowing for significant misalignment, thereby extending the life expectancy and reducing production costs, offering improved operating characteristics compared to prior art designs.
Implementation Method 1
unitizing or joining the circular disks to each other and to the first and second ends, can utilize brazing, welding, rivets, adhesives, or molding processes
Implementation Method 2
unitizing or joining the circular disks to each other and to the first and second ends, can utilize brazing, welding, rivets, adhesives, or molding processes
Implementation Method 3
Flexible couplings of these prior art types, designed for high torsional stiffness, and large torque capacity, cannot accept large mis-alignments without substantial reductions in life expectancy
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible coupling for flexibly joining two rotating or moveable members includes a unitized body having a first end and a second end coaxial to each other, and therebetween having one or more coaxial longitudinally spaced disks with center holes; two or more axial spacing portions formed from the body of each disk to provide a spacing means and joining means for unitizing the disks to each other; means for joining the unitized disks to the first and second ends; and means at the first end for coaxially connecting to a first one of the two rotating or moveable members, and means at the second end for coaxially connecting to a second one of the two rotating or moveable members.