In-Shaft Key Alignment for Automated Roller Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

In steel pipe automatic production lines, the manual replacement of rollers reduces production efficiency, and the accurate docking of new rollers with roller shafts and transmission keys is challenging for automatic robot systems.

Innovation Solution

An in-shaft key aligning and locking device is developed, featuring a first abutting shaft, a second abutting shaft, a replacement roller, and a push arm. The device includes a matching shaft hole and shoulder for axial connection, and a positioning boss and groove for circumferential positioning, enabling accurate alignment and locking of the roller and shaft components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual roller replacement is used, then accurate positioning can be achieved, but production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning boss and positioning groove structure enables the system to automatically achieve circumferential positioning through rotational alignment, eliminating the need for manual positioning operations while maintaining high positioning accuracy during automated roller replacement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning boss on the first abutting shaft acts as an intermediary element that interfaces with the positioning groove on the second abutting shaft, enabling precise circumferential alignment between shafts during automated roller replacement without requiring manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automatic robot roller replacement is used, then production efficiency improves, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoiddocking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The matching shaft hole and matching shaft shoulder are designed in advance to guide the axial connection, while the positioning boss and positioning groove are pre-configured to automatically achieve circumferential alignment when the shafts are brought together by the robotic system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If complex positioning mechanisms are added, then positioning accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented into two independent components: axial connection through the matching shaft hole and matching shaft shoulder, and circumferential positioning through the positioning boss and positioning groove. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with simple geometry, avoiding the need for complex integrated positioning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning boss and positioning groove create an asymmetric geometric relationship between the two shafts, enabling unique circumferential alignment. This asymmetric design achieves precise positioning through simple geometric constraints rather than complex symmetric mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4147800B1In-shaft key aligning and locking device

Publication Date: 2025.02.19 DALIAN FIELD HEAVY MACHINERY MFG CO LTD

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AI summary

An in-shaft key locking device, comprising a first abutment shaft (1a), a second abutment shaft (2a), replacement press rollers (3a), and push arms (4a). Each replacement press roller (3a) is sleeved on the first abutment shaft (1a); a matching shaft hole (1a1) is formed on an abutment shaft end of the first abutment shaft (1a); a matching shaft shoulder (2a1) is provided on an abutment shaft end of the second abutment shaft (2a); the matching shaft shoulder (2a1) can be inserted into the matching shaft hole (1a1), so that the first abutment shaft (1a) and the second abutment shaft (2a) achieve axial abutment; a positioning boss (1a2) is further provided inside the matching shaft hole (1a1); a positioning recess (2a2) is further formed on the end of the matching shaft shoulder (2a1); after the matching shaft shoulder (2a1) is inserted into the matching shaft hole (1a1), the first abutment shaft (1a) is rotated, and the positioning boss (1a2) can synchronously rotate along with the first abutment shaft (1a) and is inserted to the positioning recess (2a2) so as to realize the radial positioning of the first abutment shaft (1a) and the second abutment shaft (2a); and after positioning, the replacement press roller (3a) is pushed, so that the replacement press roller (3a) can be accurately introduced into the second abutment shaft (2a) from the first abutment shaft (1a).