Rotatable Flange Locking Assembly for Fast High-Power Disassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flange arrangements face challenges in efficiently transmitting high drive power while ensuring ease of maintenance and quick, cost-effective assembly and disassembly, particularly in applications like wind power plants and sugar mills, where complex connections and high mechanical stresses are common.

Innovation Solution

A flange arrangement featuring a power shaft with a detachably connected flange hub and a rotatable locking means that exerts holding and dismantling forces in opposite directions, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly with reduced component complexity and mechanical stress, using a retaining ring design with radially projecting support segments for axial disassembly force alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional flange arrangements are used to transmit high drive power, then power transmission capability is improved, but assembly and disassembly complexity increases and maintenance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive power transmissionVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking means is segmented into multiple support segments (at least two) that can be rotated independently or collectively. These segments are distributed around the circumference and can be positioned in different angular positions to provide localized support forces. This segmentation allows the locking means to exert distributed holding and dismantling forces across multiple contact points, enabling effective locking and unlocking of the flange connection while maintaining structural integrity under high drive power loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Power

If conventional flange arrangements are used to transmit high drive power, then power transmission capability is improved, but maintenance time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive power transmissionVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking means is designed to be rotatable about the axis of rotation of the power shaft, transitioning between a holding position (where support segments engage to lock the flange hub) and a dismantling position (where support segments disengage to allow removal). This dynamic capability enables quick switching between locked and unlocked states without requiring complex tooling or multiple操作步骤, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining secure locking under high power transmission conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If complex locking means are used to ensure secure connection, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly and disassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking means serves multiple functions: it provides secure locking through distributed support segments that exert holding forces, enables easy unlocking by rotating to a dismantling position where support segments disengage, and distributes mechanical loads across multiple contact points. This multi-functionality is achieved through the rotatable design with multiple support segments that can be positioned to provide both strong engagement for reliable connection and easy disengagement for simple operation, eliminating the need for separate locking and unlocking mechanisms.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3789625B1Flange arrangement, gearbox, electric motor, wind power station and industrial application
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 FLENDER GMBH
  • EP3789625B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3789625B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3789625B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a flange assembly (10) comprising a power shaft (12), a detachably connected flange hub (20) thereto, and a locking means (30). The locking means (30) is designed to detachably hold the flange hub (20) on the power shaft (12). According to the invention, the locking means (30) is rotatably configured about a pivot axis (15) of the power shaft (12) to exert a disassembly force (42) on the flange hub (20). The invention also relates to a correspondingly designed flange hub (20) and a correspondingly designed locking means (30). Furthermore, the invention relates to a gearbox (50), an electric motor (51), a wind turbine (70), and an industrial application (80) that have a corresponding flange assembly (10).