Linear Adjustment Coupling for Play-Free Motion and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustment devices face challenges in maintaining optimal alignment between the slider and drive device due to mechanical distortions and increased wear, particularly in high-precision applications, resulting from slight tilting or pivoting of the slider, which affects accuracy and repeatability.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment device with a coupling device that allows a rotational relative movement between the driven element and the slider, ensuring a highly rigid connection in the drive direction while permitting independent alignment, using a connection element with a clamping device that enables a rotational axis parallel to the drive direction, and incorporating spring-elastic sections for compensation of dimensional tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the slider is rigidly fixed to the driven element, then mechanical stability is improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates due to mechanical distortions from slight tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between slider and driven element is divided into two independent functions: a rigid connection component providing mechanical stability and a separate alignment component allowing rotational adjustment. This segmentation enables the rigid connection to maintain stability while the alignment component compensates for tilting, resolving the contradiction between mechanical stability and alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary alignment mechanism is introduced between the slider and driven element. This intermediary component absorbs the rotational misalignment through controlled tilting or adjustment, preventing the transmission of mechanical distortions to the rigid connection, thereby maintaining both stability and alignment accuracy simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If the slider is allowed to tilt for alignment optimization, then contact surface alignment is improved, but mechanical distortions increase affecting guide device accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic coupling that allows controlled rotational movement. The slider can tilt dynamically within specific limits to optimize contact surface alignment, while the driven element remains stable through the rigid connection component. This dynamic adjustment eliminates mechanical distortions by decoupling the alignment function from the load-bearing function, maintaining guide device accuracy while achieving optimal alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device segments the alignment function from the load transmission function. The alignment portion allows controlled tilting to optimize contact surfaces, while the rigid connection portion maintains mechanical stability and prevents distortion transmission to the guide device, resolving the contradiction between alignment optimization and guide device accuracy.
3Productivity
If a rigid connection is used between slider and driven element, then movement transmission efficiency is improved, but wear increases due to inability to accommodate misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is segmented into a rigid connection component for efficient movement transmission and a separate alignment component that accommodates misalignment through controlled rotational movement. This segmentation allows the rigid connection to maintain high movement transmission efficiency while the alignment component absorbs misalignment, preventing excessive wear and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the rotational parameter of the connection, allowing controlled rotational movement to accommodate misalignment. This parameter change enables the rigid connection to maintain efficient movement transmission in the linear direction while accommodating angular misalignment, thereby reducing wear and improving reliability without sacrificing transmission efficiency.
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 ensures a direct, play-free transmission of movement to the driven element, maintaining optimal alignment without mechanical interference, reducing wear, and enhancing accuracy and repeatability of the adjustment device.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating spring-elastic sections for compensation of dimensional tolerances
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustment device, comprising: a stator; a driven element; a guide apparatus for bearing the driven element in a guided manner with respect to the stator in a drive direction when the adjustment device is operational; a slider; a bearing apparatus which bears the slider so as to be movable relative to the stator in the drive direction; a drive device which drives the slider; a coupling apparatus; and a clamping apparatus. When released, the clamping apparatus allows a range of movement between the connection device and either the slider or the driven element in order to set up an assembly state of the adjustment device and, when clamped, said clamping apparatus rigidly couples together the connection section and either the slider or the driven element in the drive direction and thereby allows a relative rotational movement between the driven element and the about a rotational axis extending in the drive direction.