Two-Piece Joint Adapter Assembly for Grease-Sealed Shaft Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint arrangements face challenges during assembly, particularly in introducing joint grease effectively while ensuring a closed cavity for lubrication, especially when connecting shafts with varying diameters and angles in drive train systems.
Innovation Solution
A joint arrangement featuring a nut for fixing to a first shaft, an adapter unit for connecting to a second shaft, and a sealing system with a cavity for joint grease, utilizing a two-piece adapter unit with different diameters to facilitate assembly and torque transmission, and sealing devices like sealing bellows and covers to maintain a closed environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-piece adapter unit is used, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate nuts with varying diameters and prevent grease leakage during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter unit is divided into two separate components: a first adapter component with a first inner diameter and a second adapter component with a second inner diameter. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific functions - the first component accommodates larger nuts during assembly while the second component provides the final sealed connection, thereby preventing grease leakage without requiring excessive complexity in a single piece.
2Reliability
If the cavity is closed early to seal joint grease, then lubrication is protected, but assembly operations become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The first adapter component is designed with a larger first inner diameter that allows the nut and joint grease to be introduced into the cavity before the final sealing operation. This preliminary configuration enables assembly operations to proceed with easy access, after which the second adapter component is installed to close the cavity and seal the grease, thus protecting lubrication without hindering the assembly process.
3Reliability
If the first adapter component has a small inner diameter, then the connection to the second shaft is tighter, but the nut cannot be accessed for tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter unit employs local quality by providing different inner diameters at different locations - the first adapter component has a larger first inner diameter to allow nut access and tightening operations, while the second adapter component has a smaller second inner diameter to provide a tight connection to the second shaft. This spatial variation in dimensions allows both loose access and tight connection to be achieved in the same assembly.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a two-piece adapter unit is used, then assembly flexibility and sealing are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter unit is segmented into two functional components with distinct purposes - the first adapter component for assembly access and the second adapter component for final sealing and connection. This segmentation provides assembly flexibility and adaptability to different nut sizes while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure, thereby achieving versatility without excessive overall complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a joint assembly (1) comprising a joint (10), a nut (20), and an adapter unit (30). The joint (10) has an inner hub (11), an outer hub (12), balls (13), and a cage (14) with recesses (15) for the balls (13). The inner hub (11) has a recess (16) with internal teeth (17) for receiving a first shaft (100). A cavity (2) of the joint assembly (1) surrounds the balls (13) and is closed at two end faces (3, 4) by sealing devices (5, 6). The adapter unit (30) comprises a first adapter component (31) and a second adapter component (32), both of which are annular. The first adapter component (31) has a recess (34) with a first inner diameter. The second adapter component (32) has a first internal recess (35) with the first internal diameter and a second internal recess (36) with a second internal diameter.The first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter and the first inner diameter is at least equal to a largest outer diameter of the nut (20).