Friction Clutch with Corrugated Spring Element for Sunblind Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing friction clutches in sunblind drives fail to maintain exact concentricity, leading to inefficiencies in torque transfer and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A friction clutch design utilizing corrugated springy elements, such as metal sheets or wires, is employed between the inner and outer disks or shafts to ensure firm contact and concentric alignment, capable of handling high torque and thermal expansion differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional friction clutches are used to connect inner and outer disks, then torque transfer is enabled, but exact concentricity cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin metallic spring films as the connecting element between inner and outer disks. These flexible films maintain constant contact pressure while accommodating thermal expansion differences, ensuring both exact concentricity through elastic deformation and reliable torque transfer through continuous mechanical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of metallic spring films, where the material parameters (elastic modulus, yield strength) are selected to enable the film to deform elastically under operational loads. This parameter selection allows the film to maintain concentric alignment while transmitting torque, resolving the contradiction between precision and reliability.
2Power
If rigid connections are used between inner and outer disks, then torque transfer is strong, but thermal expansion differences cause misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic spring films serve as flexible transmission elements that can deform to accommodate differential thermal expansion between inner and outer disks made of different materials. This flexibility maintains concentric alignment while still providing strong torque transfer capability through continuous elastic contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly addresses thermal expansion differences between inner and outer disks by using metallic spring films with appropriate thermal and elastic properties. The films expand and deform in response to temperature changes, maintaining mechanical contact and concentricity despite the different thermal expansion coefficients of the disk materials.
3Ease of operation
If friction clutches allow manual override for adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but exact concentricity during normal operation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic spring films provide a friction-based connection that naturally allows for easy manual adjustment and disengagement while maintaining exact concentricity during normal operation. The elastic nature of the films creates a controlled friction interface that can be easily overridden when needed but provides precise alignment during operational use.
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 provides precise concentricity and effective torque transfer, ensuring reliable operation even under varying temperature conditions and high torque demands.
Implementation Method 1
a springy element SE in between. The outer disk OD carries a notch N.
Implementation Method 2
Friction Clutch and Sunblind Drive
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a friction clutch for coupling a first shaft or disk (ID) to a second shaft or disk (OD) with limited moment of force, where the shafts or disks are arranged within one another in a coaxial manner, including a springy element (SE) connecting both shafts or disks, wherein the springy element is located between the first and the second shaft or disk and appears as corrugated line in a section plane lying perpendicular to the common axis and capturing almost the whole circumference, as well as to a sunblind drive therewith.