Rotor Cup Coupling Device for Open-End Spinning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Open-end spinning rotors face challenges in maintaining a simple and maintenance-friendly design, particularly due to complex and costly replacement processes of rotor cups and magnetic bearings, which are exacerbated by high speeds and wear issues.

Innovation Solution

A rotor cup design with a coupling device featuring a direct, form-fit connection for torque transmission and a magnetic axial connection between the rotor shaft and cup, where the coupling components are integrated directly onto the rotor shaft or cup without additional components, allowing for easy assembly and replacement of the permanent magnet, which is located on the rotor cup for accessibility and simplicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coupling device with intermediate components (coupling shell, receiving sleeve) is used to connect rotor shaft and rotor cup, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcoupling device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the rotor shaft and rotor cup directly through integrated coupling elements. The rotor shaft includes a coupling element that engages directly with a corresponding coupling element on the rotor cup, eliminating the need for separate coupling shells, receiving sleeves, or other intermediate components. This direct merging maintains secure connection while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes all intermediate coupling components (coupling shell, receiving sleeve, separate retention elements) from the connection system. Only the essential coupling elements directly integrated into the rotor shaft and rotor cup remain, simplifying the overall structure while preserving the secure connection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Power

If additional coupling components (guide projection, receiving sleeve with internal hexagon socket) are added to the rotor shaft and rotor cup, then the torque transmission and axial retention are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the minimal necessary coupling elements. The coupling elements on the rotor shaft and rotor cup are designed to simultaneously provide torque transmission through their engagement geometry and axial retention through their structural configuration, eliminating the need for separate guide projections, receiving sleeves, and hexagon sockets as distinct components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling elements are designed with localized functional features directly where needed on the rotor shaft and rotor cup surfaces. The geometry of the coupling elements provides torque transmission capability through their engagement surfaces, while their positioning and structure provide axial retention, concentrating all necessary functions in the local coupling region without adding overall component weight or complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the permanent magnet is integrated into the rotor shaft with additional retaining structures, then the axial retention is more secure, but the accessibility for maintenance and replacement becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial retentionVSAvoidpermanent magnet accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the permanent magnet from complex integrated retaining structures within the rotor shaft and relocates it to the rotor cup. The magnet is positioned in a location that is easily accessible for maintenance while still providing effective axial retention through its interaction with the simplified coupling elements on the rotor shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The permanent magnet is positioned on the rotor cup in a location that allows for easy self-service maintenance. The magnet can be readily accessed, removed, and replaced without requiring disassembly of complex retaining structures or specialized tools, enabling quick maintenance operations while maintaining secure axial retention during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design simplifies assembly, reduces weight and space requirements, enables easy maintenance, and allows for efficient operation at high speeds by providing a lightweight and accessible magnetic connection, thus improving the overall maintenance and operational efficiency of open-end spinning devices.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic device for axially connecting the rotor shaft and rotor cup

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3153611B1Rotor cup for an open-end spinning rotor with a coupling device
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
  • EP3153611B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3153611B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3153611B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

A rotor cup (2) for an open-end spinning rotor (1), in which a fiber material can be spun and which has a coupling device (5) for detachable connection with a rotor shaft (4) of the spinning rotor (1), wherein the coupling device (5) includes a positive-locking connection for torque transmission between the rotor cup (2) and the rotor shaft (4) as well as a magnetic device for axial connection of the rotor shaft (4) and the rotor cup (2), has at least one recess (10) for a projection (8) of the rotor shaft (4). The recess (10) includes a first cylindrical section (10a) and a second section (10b), which has at least one torque-transmitting counter-region (11) in the form of at least one torque-transmitting surface, wherein a receptacle (12) for a permanent magnet (7) is arranged on the rotor cup (2), in particular in the base (19) of the rotor cup (2).