Floating Mechanism for Machine Tool with Spherical Inner Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools with floating mechanisms face deformation and rigidity issues due to load distribution problems, requiring large and heavy designs to manage both radial and thrust loads effectively.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool design featuring a hollow cylinder with a tubular piston and a floating section that includes a hollow circular-plate-shaped inner ring with a spherical outer surface, allowing for stable load distribution and reduced component count, enabling miniaturization and lightening while maintaining rigidity, and incorporating features like taper-shaped portions and O-rings for enhanced contact area and stress dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spherical surface bearing is used to carry radial loads, then the load carrying capability is improved, but the thrust direction load causes wedge-like spreading force that deforms the bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a spherical surface bearing to carry radial loads while accepting that thrust direction loads cause wedge-like spreading. The spherical geometry allows the bearing to accommodate radial forces effectively while the design accepts the deformation as a trade-off that can be managed through other means.
2Strength
If the machine tool is made large to secure rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the weight increases and requires larger carrying capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a counterbalancing mechanism where a weight is added to the machine tool structure to compensate for the weight reduction achieved through miniaturization. This counterweight approach allows the machine to maintain the necessary rigidity and balance without requiring excessive overall mass, effectively decoupling the rigidity requirement from proportional weight increase.
3Force
If multiple small pistons are disposed on the circumference to handle loads, then the load distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple small pistons into a single large piston structure. Instead of using multiple separate pistons distributed around the circumference, the design consolidates the load-bearing function into one unified piston that contacts the floating section, thereby reducing component count while maintaining effective load distribution through the floating mechanism.
4Volume of moving object
If the air pressure receiving surface is made thin and cylinder-shaped, then the miniaturization is achieved, but the rigidity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a thin-walled cylindrical structure for the air pressure receiving surface of the piston. This thin-walled design enables miniaturization by reducing material usage and overall size while the cylindrical geometry and strategic reinforcement allow the structure to maintain sufficient rigidity to withstand operating pressures without excessive deformation.
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 stabilizes load distribution and reduces deformation and wear, allowing for miniaturization and lightening of the machine tool while maintaining rigidity and constant pressure control, independent of tilting directions, and improves sealing performance over a wide pressure range.
Implementation Method 1
a piston is pressed with an air pressure or spring force to press at a constant pressure various tools
Implementation Method 2
an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring is formed of a spherical surface equidistant from a center point of the hollow circular-plate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a machine tool which is equipped with a floating mechanism, and the whole of which can be miniaturized and lightened, the floating mechanism being equipped with carriers of loads generated in both radial and thrust directions, resulting in deformation of the floating mechanism being reduced. The floating section (4) of the machine tool is provided with a hollow circular-plate-shaped inner ring (9) comprising an outer peripheral surface section (9a), an upper surface section (9b), and a bottom surface section (9c); and an outer ring (8) comprising an inner peripheral section (8a) and an inner ring receiving section (8b). The outer ring (8) is fixed to a robot arm. The inner ring (9) is fixed to a tool driving section. The outer peripheral surface of the inner ring (9) is formed by a spherical surface which is equidistant from the center point (14) of a hollow circular plate.