Rotating Optical Waveguide Coupling with Prestressed Bearing Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for transmitting optical signals between rotating structural units, such as rotor and stator, face challenges in achieving high transmission rates while maintaining ease of production and minimizing signal attenuation.
Innovation Solution
The device employs coaxially arranged optical waveguides with a prestressed bearing arrangement and ceramic components, including sleeves and bushings, to ensure precise alignment and low-friction operation, eliminating the need for lenses or collimators and allowing for high data transmission rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lenses or collimators are used to transmit optical signals between waveguides, then transmission quality may be improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the lenses or collimators from the optical signal transmission system. By using direct end-to-end coupling between optical waveguides, the patent removes unnecessary optical components that complicate the device while maintaining effective signal transmission through precise waveguide alignment and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the optical system (lenses/collimators) with a mechanically precise positioning system. The bearing assembly and bushing structure provide mechanical constraints that ensure accurate alignment and positioning of waveguides, substituting complex optical components with a refined mechanical positioning approach.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment mechanisms are implemented to maintain waveguide positioning, then transmission precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates an equipotential positioning environment where the bearing assembly and bushing structure provide uniform mechanical constraints and support for the waveguides. This design ensures that all waveguides are held in predetermined positions with consistent precision, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining high alignment accuracy through symmetric and balanced mechanical support.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing assembly and bushing structure are designed to automatically maintain waveguide positioning through their inherent mechanical properties. The preloaded bearing and precision bushings self-adjust to maintain optimal alignment without requiring additional active control mechanisms or complex adjustment procedures during manufacturing and operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bearing assemblies with preloaded elements are used to maintain waveguide positioning, then transmission stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the bearing assembly and bushing structure. These components simultaneously provide mechanical support, precise positioning, stable alignment maintenance, and rotational freedom for the waveguides. By combining these functions into integrated mechanical elements rather than separate systems, the patent achieves high stability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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 configuration enables excellent signal quality and low attenuation, facilitating extremely high data transmission rates between rotating structural units with minimal production complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the first bushing is axially pre-tensioned against the housing by a first spring element
Implementation Method 2
the force introduced by the second spring element is transmitted through the bearing assembly into the first bushing
Implementation Method 3
a bearing arrangement, in particular a self-adjusting rolling bearing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for transmitting optical signals between a first component (1) and a second component (2), which is rotatably arranged relative to the first component (1) about an axis (A). The first component (1) has a first optical waveguide (1.1) and the second component (2) has a second optical waveguide (2.1). The device further comprises a first sleeve (1.2), a first socket (1.3), and a housing (1.4), wherein the first sleeve (1.2) encloses the first optical waveguide (1.1) and the first socket (1.3). The device also comprises a second sleeve (2.2) and a second socket (2.3), wherein the second sleeve (2.2) encloses the second optical waveguide (2.1) and the second socket (2.3) encloses the second sleeve (2.2). Furthermore, the device comprises a bearing arrangement (3) which includes at least a first ring (3.1) and rolling elements (3.3) which are located on a conical surface (3.11) has rollable support. The device is also configured such that the housing (1.4) encloses the first bushing (1.3) and the second bushing (2.3) as well as the bearing assembly (3), wherein the bearing assembly (3) is arranged to be axially displaceable relative to the housing (1.4) and the second bushing (2.3) is axially preloaded against the first bushing (1.3) via the bearing assembly (3), wherein the rolling elements (3.3) are radially preloaded against the housing (1.4) by their support on the conical surface (3.11). (Figure 1).