Rotational Coupling Wear Compensation via Adjustable Shim
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotational coupling devices, such as clutches and brakes, experience wear on engagement surfaces, leading to increased air gaps and higher current demands, which can exceed system constraints and reduce the device's useful life.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a removable shim or adjustable spacer between the brake plate and field shell allows for axial movement of the brake plate to compensate for wear on engagement surfaces, maintaining a consistent air gap and magnetic circuit, thereby minimizing current requirements and extending the device's service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If wear compensation structure (shim or spacer) is added, then service life is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wear compensation is achieved by segmenting the brake assembly into separable components: the brake plate, field shell, and an adjustable shim or spacer. This segmentation allows the shim to be independently adjusted or replaced to compensate for wear without replacing the entire brake assembly, thereby extending service life while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shim or spacer provides dynamic adjustability to the brake plate position relative to the field shell. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to wear over time by modifying the air gap, extending the operational life of the device while the adjustment mechanism adds only minimal complexity compared to a completely fixed design.
2Reliability
If air gap increases due to wear, then current demand increases, but this exceeds system constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The shim or spacer is pre-configured with a specific axial dimension that anticipates and compensates for expected wear. By preliminarily setting the correct air gap dimension, the system prevents the air gap from increasing beyond acceptable limits, thereby maintaining reliable operation and preventing excessive current demand that would exceed system constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial dimension of the shim or spacer is specifically designed to change (compensate for) the air gap parameter. By adjusting this dimensional parameter, the system maintains the optimal air gap between the armature and rotor, ensuring reliable clutch engagement while keeping current demand within system constraints.
3Reliability
If wear on engagement surfaces occurs, then air gap increases, but consistent air gap is needed for proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The shim or spacer is pre-configured with a specific axial dimension that anticipates and compensates for expected wear. By preliminarily setting the correct air gap dimension, the system prevents the air gap from increasing beyond acceptable limits, thereby maintaining reliable operation and preventing excessive current demand that would exceed system constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial dimension of the shim or spacer is specifically designed to change (compensate for) the air gap parameter. By adjusting this dimensional parameter, the system maintains the optimal air gap between the armature and rotor, ensuring reliable clutch engagement while keeping current demand within system constraints.
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
The solution effectively maintains a consistent air gap and magnetic circuit, reducing the need for increased current during clutch engagement and extending the service life of the rotational coupling device by compensating for wear on engagement surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Permanent magnets coupled to the brake plate are also used to create another magnetic circuit between the brake plate, the field shell and the armature to assist the leaf springs in braking the armature and output member
Implementation Method 2
Energizing the conductor produces a magnetic circuit in the field shell, rotor and armature that draws the armature into engagement with the rotor
Implementation Method 3
Energizing the conductor produces a magnetic circuit in the field shell, rotor and armature that draws the armature into engagement with the rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A rotational coupling device for use as a clutch and/or brake is provided having structure to compensate for wear on braking surfaces. The device includes an armature coupled to an output member and movable between positions of engagement with a rotor and a brake plate. The brake plate is coupled to a stationary field shell that houses a conductor on one side of the rotor opposite the armature and brake plate. The brake plate is axially spaced from the field shell and a removable shim or adjustable spacer is disposed between the brake plate and the field shell. Removal of the shim or adjustment of the spacer permit movement of the brake plate towards the field shell to compensate for wear in the clutch and/or brake engagement surfaces of the device.