Gear Flexible Coupling Axial Travel Limiting Inversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear flexible couplings used in high-speed trains are limited by their size, torque transmission capacity, and sealing efficiency, requiring frequent servicing due to axial and angular misalignments.
Innovation Solution
The axial travel limiting device is reconfigured with the nose fixed to the sleeve and abutment elements to the hub, enhancing the structural rigidity and stiffness of the hub, allowing higher torque transmission and improved sealing through a more effective stop function and reduced deformation, while maintaining axial and angular misalignment capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the axial travel limiting device is configured with the nose fixed to the hub and abutment elements fixed to the sleeve (prior art), then the device can limit axial relative movements, but the hub requires a larger annular section which reduces structural rigidity and torque transmission capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the prior art configuration by fixing the nose to the sleeve instead of the hub, and fixing the abutment elements to the hub instead of the sleeve. This inversion allows the hub to have a smaller, more rigid annular section while the sleeve absorbs the axial limiting function, thereby improving torque transmission capacity without compromising axial movement limitation.
2Strength
If the hub annular section is reduced to improve structural rigidity, then torque transmission capacity increases, but the sealing effectiveness may be compromised due to reduced space for seal members
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the axial limiting device configuration, the sealing surface is transferred from the hub to the sleeve (specifically to the cap fixed to the sleeve). This allows the hub annular section to be minimized for maximum rigidity, while the sleeve provides adequate space and surface area for effective seal members, thus maintaining both structural rigidity and sealing reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If the gear coupling is designed for compact size, then space requirements are reduced, but the torque transmission capacity and ability to handle dynamic angular misalignments are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted configuration of the axial travel limiting device enables a more efficient use of the hub annular section, which can be minimized without compromising strength. This inversion allows the compact design to maintain adequate torque transmission capacity by concentrating the structural strength where most needed while the sleeve handles the axial limiting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the hub and sleeve to achieve a compact overall size while maintaining sufficient torque transmission capacity. By changing the distribution of functional elements (inverting the axial limiting configuration), the design achieves better parameter efficiency, allowing compact dimensions without sacrificing strength.
4Reliability
If frequent servicing is required to maintain sealing effectiveness, then reliability is maintained, but operational efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the axial limiting device configuration and relocating the sealing interface to the sleeve rather than the hub, the patent creates a more reliable sealing arrangement that is less prone to degradation. The sleeve provides a more stable sealing surface that maintains effectiveness over longer periods, thereby reducing servicing frequency and improving operational productivity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The gear coupling (10; 110) comprises first and second half-couplings (12, 12'; 112, 112'), each comprising a hub (14, 14'; 114, 114') provided with rounded outer teeth (36, 36'; 136, 136') and a sleeve (16, 16'; 116, 116') provided with inner teeth (40, 40'; 140, 140') meshing with the outer teeth (36, 36'; 136, 136'). Each hub comprises a first radially inner tubular portion (26, 26'; 126, 126') and a second radially outer tubular portion (28, 28'; 128, 128'), which is arranged coaxially to the first one and on which the outer teeth (36, 36'; 136, 136') are provided. Each half-coupling further comprises a cap (44, 44'; 144, 144') which is fixed to the sleeve and comprises a tubular portion (48, 48'; 148, 148') extending in an annular seat (30, 30'; 130, 130') provided between the first and second tubular portions of the hub. At least one half-coupling further comprises an axial travel limiting device (52, 52'; 152, 152') which is accommodated in the annular seat of the hub and comprises a stop annular element (54, 54'; 154, 154') fixed to the tubular portion of the cap and a pair of abutment elements (56, 58, 56', 58'; 156, 158, 156', 158') which are fixed to the hub and are arranged on axially opposite sides with respect to the stop annular element so as to define respective axial abutment surfaces for this latter.