Pretensioned Clamping Ring for Hollow Shaft Force-Locking Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clamp connections for hollow shafts lack efficient and cost-effective methods to achieve a secure, non-positive connection with a shaft while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and often require complex components or materials.

Innovation Solution

A clamping ring with a radially and axially continuous slot and a tangentially directed stepped bore, featuring a limiting element that is elastically tensioned and supported in a further threaded area, allowing for a form-fitting connection and easy release, using simple and inexpensive components like steel or Teflon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a clamping ring with a continuous slot is used to enable easy assembly and disassembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural strength may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assembly and disassemblyVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The slot in the clamping ring is designed with varying width along its length, creating different local qualities. The narrower sections provide structural reinforcement while the wider sections allow for expansion and contraction during assembly and disassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the clamping ring is designed to expand and fit tightly to the hollow shaft, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping ring incorporates a slot that divides the ring structure, allowing it to be segmented and expanded. This segmentation enables the ring to fit tightly around the hollow shaft while maintaining a relatively simple overall design without requiring multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the screw is allowed to move freely in the stepped bore, then the ease of operation is improved, but the positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew adjustabilityVSAvoidscrew positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stepped bore provides a dynamic positioning system for the screw. The screw can move freely within the bore during assembly and adjustment, but the stepped sections create specific positioning points that ensure precise final positioning when the clamping ring is in its operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables a secure, non-positive connection with enhanced elasticity and ease of assembly/disassembly, utilizing a clamping ring that expands to fit the hollow shaft, providing a larger working range and efficient force distribution, while protecting the threaded area from overload.

Implementation Method 1

the limiting element being elastically tensioned, in particular and thereby supported in the further threaded area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The clamping ring (1) is pretensioned in a first method step by means of the screw (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3749872B1Method for clamping a hollow shaft area to a shaft by means of a clamping ring and arrangement for carrying out the method
Publication Date: 2022.05.18 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3749872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3749872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3749872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the clamping connection of a hollow shaft region to a shaft by means of a clamping ring and an arrangement for carrying out the method, wherein the clamping ring (1) has a slit, wherein the width of the slit can be adjusted by means of a screw (3), wherein the screw (3) is limited by a limiting element connected to the clamping ring (1), wherein, in a first method step, the clamping ring (1) is pretensioned by means of the screw (3) in such a way that the slit width reaches a greater value than the slit width in the released state of the clamping ring (1), wherein, subsequently, in a second method step, the clamping ring (1) is placed onto the hollow shaft region, wherein, subsequently, in a third method step, the slit width is reduced until the clamping ring (1) is released and/or until the provided force-locking connection of the hollow shaft region to the adapter shaft is achieved.