Rotary Drive Design With Conical Centering Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotary drive designs experience misalignment between the tool and workpiece due to gaps caused by manufacturing tolerances, leading to transverse forces and inefficient torque transmission.

Innovation Solution

A rotary drive design featuring a cylindrical basic shape with alternating projections and recesses, accompanied by conical surfaces that deviate from a common cone axis, optimizing surface area for torque transmission while maintaining centering capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a basic cylindrical shape with alternating projections and recesses is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but gaps occur between the tool and workpiece due to manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary drive configuration is segmented into multiple functional surfaces: cylindrical basic shape for torque transmission and conical centering surfaces for alignment. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Conical centering surfaces are introduced as intermediary elements between the cylindrical torque-transmitting surfaces. These conical surfaces act as mediators that eliminate gaps and ensure precise alignment between tool and workpiece axes before torque transmission begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If conical surfaces are added for centering, then alignment precision improves, but the surface area for torque transmission decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidtorque transmission surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the rotary drive configuration are assigned different qualities: cylindrical surfaces provide torque transmission area while conical surfaces provide centering function. The conical surfaces are positioned locally between the cylindrical sections, optimizing each local region for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the conical surfaces are made larger for better centering, then centering precision improves, but the torque transmission area is further reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentering precisionVSAvoidtorque transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The geometry parameters of the conical surfaces are optimized: the cone angle is set between 5° and 15°, and the axial extent corresponds approximately to the depth of the drive recess. These parameter changes ensure sufficient centering precision while minimizing the impact on torque transmission area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2475897B1Rotary drive design
Publication Date: 2015.08.12 SWG SCHRAUBENWERK GAISBACH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2475897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2475897B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2475897B1 patent drawingFigure 7~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a design for a rotary drive for both a tool and a workpiece to be rotationally driven. Said rotary drive design includes a basic cylindrical shape that deviates from a circular cylindrical shape. The contour or the cross-section through said basic shape has multiple rounded protrusions (3, 17) and rounded recesses (4, 18) lying between said protrusions. The protrusions tangentially approximate a circle with a maximal radius (5), while the recesses tangentially approximate a circle with a minimal radius (7). Conical surfaces (8, 19) are formed in the regions between the protrusions in a manner deviating from said basic cylindrical shape, said conical surfaces not cooperating in the transmission of torques but allowing the tool and the workpiece to be centered and aligned in relation to one another.