Clamping Ring Joint With Balanced Bores for Planetary Gear Shafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connections for planetary gear systems on rapidly rotating shafts lack balance and stability, leading to inefficiencies in torque transmission and mass distribution.

Innovation Solution

A compound comprising a shaft inserted into a hollow shaft with a ring part and screw members, where the ring part has radially continuous threaded bores and regularly spaced thickening, allowing for balanced and stable connection through screw tightening, achieving high torque with minimal effort and mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a ring part is used to create a non-positive connection at a clamping ring, then the connection is simple to manufacture, but the connection lacks balance and stability on rapidly rotating shafts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ring part is divided into multiple segments or thickening zones arranged circumferentially, allowing each segment to be independently balanced while collectively providing stable connection. This segmentation enables precise mass distribution to achieve balance on rapidly rotating shafts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the ring part have different mass distributions or thicknesses (local quality variations) to achieve dynamic balance. Specifically, certain circumferential positions have adjusted mass characteristics to counterbalance rotational forces, while maintaining the overall simple structure for easy manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If the ring part is made with minimal mass to reduce effort, then the connection requires less effort to ground, but the connection torque and stability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffort to groundVSAvoidconnection torque
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ring part employs asymmetric mass distribution with specific thickening zones positioned at particular circumferential locations. This asymmetric design creates counterbalancing masses that generate sufficient connection torque while keeping the overall mass minimal, thus reducing effort to ground while maintaining high connection strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The thickening zones in the ring part function as counterweights that generate balancing forces during rotation. These counterbalancing structures provide the necessary connection torque to counteract rotational forces, enabling high connection strength with minimal overall mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Stability of the object's composition

If thickening are added to the ring part to improve balance, then the balancing is achieved, but the mass and complexity of the ring part increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebalancingVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing function is merged with the structural thickening zones of the ring part. Instead of adding separate balancing masses, the thickening itself serves dual purposes: providing structural strength and creating the necessary mass distribution for balance. This integration reduces overall complexity while achieving both balance and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The thickening zones in the ring part serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural reinforcement, create dynamic balance through proper mass distribution, and enable simple manufacture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby reducing complexity while achieving balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If the ring part is designed with regular spacing of thickening, then the production is simplified, but the balancing requires higher moments with odd numbers of thickening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidbalancing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing requirement is extracted as a separate design constraint from the regular spacing pattern. By calculating the specific mass distribution and thickening dimensions, the design achieves balance with regularly spaced thickening zones, even with odd numbers. This separation of constraints allows regular spacing for simple production while meeting precision balancing requirements through optimized thickening characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 provides a balanced and stable connection that enables high torque transmission with reduced effort and mass, enhancing the stability and efficiency of the planetary gear system.

Implementation Method 1

the non-positive connection is effective by tightening the screw member and thus caused shrinking of the ring part to the hollow shaft effectively executable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShrinking: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

a screw part, in particular grub screw and / or threaded pin, is screwed, which presses on the hollow shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3642505B1Joint connection having a shaft at least partially inserted in a hollow shaft and a ring part placed around the hollow shaft and a planetary gear
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3642505B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3642505B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3642505B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling comprising a shaft inserted at least partially into a hollow shaft and a ring part slipped onto the hollow shaft, in particular a clamping ring, wherein the ring part is axially delimited by a collar formed on the shaft, in particular a radially protruding collar, and/or the ring part abuts a collar or the shaft collar, in particular a collar formed on the shaft, in particular a radially protruding collar, the hollow shaft having slits spaced apart from the collar, in particular axial slits, wherein the ring part comprises a chamfer, in particular on its inner face and/or at its annular opening and/or in particular in its axial end region facing the collar, such that the inner diameter of the ring part in the axial region covered by the chamfer is greater than the inner diameter in the axial region in which the ring part contacts the hollow shaft, an uneven number of groups of axial bores, in particular three, being produced in the ring part, the median points or midpoints of the groups determined in the peripheral direction being regularly spaced apart in the peripheral direction.