Rotary Indexing Coupling With Torque-Release Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary devices used in production lines, such as rotary indexing tables, can cause damage to other components or assemblies due to excessive torque during rotation, leading to mechanical damage and precision issues in positioning.

Innovation Solution

A rotary device with a detachable coupling mechanism between the drive and driven parts, utilizing a tensioning device that decouples in case of increased torque, allowing for adjustable clamping and release positions to prevent damage and maintain precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the rotary device uses a fixed rigid coupling between drive and driven parts, then the positioning precision and stability are improved, but the risk of mechanical damage from excessive torque increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidmechanical damage from excessive torque
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling between drive and driven parts is changed from a fixed rigid state to a dynamic controllable state. The clutch mechanism allows the system to switch between coupled and decoupled states based on torque conditions, enabling the system to adapt to varying operational requirements and prevent damage from excessive torque while maintaining positioning precision during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A clutch mechanism is introduced as an intermediary element between the drive and driven parts. This intermediary component can engage or disengage the torque transmission path, allowing the system to maintain precise positioning when needed while protecting against mechanical damage when excessive torque occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the rotary device uses a detachable coupling mechanism to prevent damage from excessive torque, then the protection against mechanical damage is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against mechanical damageVSAvoidcoupling mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on torque conditions without requiring external control systems. The self-actuating design reduces the need for additional sensors, controllers, and actuation mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still providing effective protection against excessive torque.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the rotary device maintains a rigid connection for high positioning accuracy, then the positioning precision is improved, but the ability to handle torque variations and protect components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational positioning accuracyVSAvoidcomponent protection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic controllable coupling. The clutch mechanism can rapidly engage or disengage based on real-time torque conditions, allowing the system to maintain high positioning accuracy during normal operation while providing reliable protection against component damage when torque exceeds safe limits.

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

Prevents mechanical damage from excessive torque while ensuring high precision in rotational positioning by decoupling the driven part from the drive part when excessive torque is applied, thus protecting both the device and other components.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one tensioning device can be adjusted between a clamping position, in which the driven part is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the drive part, and a release position, in which the driven part is decoupled from the drive part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Data Source

PatentEP3970912A1Rotation device
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 TAKTOMAT KURVENGESTEUERTE ANTRIEBSSYST
  • EP3970912A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3970912A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3970912A1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The invention relates to a rotary device for receiving at least one machining and/or handling unit. The essential aspect of the present invention is to provide a rotary device for receiving at least one machining and/or handling unit, comprising a rotating body rotatably arranged about a rotational axis for receiving the at least one machining and/or handling unit. The rotating body can be engaged with a helical drum cam via several drivers to initiate a rotary movement. Furthermore, a drive is provided that directly or indirectly drives the drum cam about a drum axis. According to the invention, the rotating body has at least one drive part and an output part rotatable about the rotational axis relative to the drive part, wherein the drive part is detachably coupled to the output part via at least one clamping device.