Linear Drive Cardan Joint Clearance Fit Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear drives face challenges in achieving long service life due to tension-related deformations and resulting frictional forces, which can lead to reduced performance and increased risk of leaks from dust and dirt ingress.
Innovation Solution
The linear drive incorporates a cardan joint with loose-fitting elevations and recesses to compensate for play, avoiding tension and deformations, and features a bearing plate with a continuous recess for air pressure equalization and heat dissipation, ensuring a hermetically sealed and stable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid connection is used between the linear drive and the device to be driven, then structural stability is improved, but tension and deformations occur reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The connection type is changed from rigid to cardan joint with clearance fit, transforming the mechanical connection parameters to allow angular compensation while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The cardan joint acts as an intermediary element between the linear drive and the device to be driven, compensating for misalignments and preventing tension transmission
2Reliability
If a cardan joint with clearance fit is used to avoid tension, then service life is improved, but structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection parameters are optimized by using elevations with specific dimensions that provide sufficient rigidity while maintaining the clearance fit necessary for cardan joint functionality
3Reliability
If the linear drive is hermetically sealed to prevent leaks, then reliability is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A bellows structure is used to create a hermetic seal while allowing for thermal expansion and maintaining pressure equalization, enabling both protection and heat dissipation
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows acts as an intermediary flexible membrane that separates the internal drive components from the external environment while allowing thermal energy to dissipate
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
This design enhances the service life by reducing frictional forces, preventing leaks, and improving heat dissipation, resulting in a more reliable and durable linear drive system.
Implementation Method 1
two joint parts connected to one another having second elevations projecting in the transverse direction to the axis of the spindle, in particular one elevation being formed on each of the joint parts, with each of the joint parts having a recess into which in each case a first elevation is at least partially inserted, in particular in each case by means of a clearance fit
Implementation Method 2
bearing plate with a continuous recess for air pressure equalization
Implementation Method 3
bearing plate with a continuous recess for air pressure equalization and heat dissipation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A linear drive with a spindle nut and a spindle, and with an end shield in which a bearing is accommodated for the rotatable mounting of the spindle nut or spindle, in particular wherein the spindle is operatively connected to the spindle nut, in particular is screwed into the spindle nut, wherein first elevations are formed on the end shield in a manner protruding in the transverse direction with respect to the axis of the spindle for connection by means of a universal joint to a device to be driven, wherein two interconnected joint parts have second elevations protruding in the transverse direction with respect to the axis of the spindle, in particular wherein an elevation is integrally formed on each of the joint parts, wherein each of the joint parts has a recess in which a first elevation is in each case inserted, in particular in each case by means of a clearance fit, in particular therefore in each case by means of a fit having a clearance, wherein the second elevations are oriented perpendicularly to the first elevations.