Safety Coupling Centrifugal Release High Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety couplings are not effective at high rotational speeds exceeding 1000 rpm and lack the ability to provide a predetermined duration of slippage before decoupling and a minimum slipping angle before activation.
Innovation Solution
A safety coupling with a centrifugal device that includes a centrifugal unit interacting with a shifting gate, where the centrifugal unit's movement is limited by a stop, allowing for controlled slippage and disengagement of the driving and driven coupling members at high speeds, and featuring a compact design with a separate release device to reduce weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If existing safety couplings are used, then they can provide overload protection, but they are not effective at high rotational speeds exceeding 1000 rpm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including a centrifugal unit with movable centrifugal weights that respond to rotational speed, a flexible membrane that deforms under pressure changes, and a shifting gate mechanism that adapts its position based on operational conditions. These dynamic components enable the safety coupling to function reliably at high rotational speeds up to 3600 rpm by automatically adjusting to speed-dependent forces and conditions.
2Duration of action of moving object
If existing safety couplings are used, then they can disconnect driving and driven members, but they lack the ability to provide a predetermined duration of slippage before decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a predetermined slippage mechanism where the shifting gate and centrifugal unit are pre-configured to allow controlled slippage for a specific duration before triggering decoupling. The geometric relationship between the shifting gate, stop, and centrifugal unit establishes a predetermined angular travel that corresponds to the desired slippage duration, eliminating the need for complex timing controls.
3Reliability
If existing safety couplings are used, then they can protect against overload, but they lack the ability to provide a minimum slipping angle before activation
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugal unit is pre-loaded by a spring to maintain initial contact with the shifting gate, establishing a predetermined angular threshold before activation. This pre-positioning ensures that a minimum slipping angle must be exceeded before the centrifugal unit moves radially to trigger decoupling, providing reliable overload protection while keeping the mechanism simple through geometric constraints rather than complex controls.
4Speed
If a centrifugal device is added to enable high speed operation, then rotational speed capability increases, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the centrifugal unit with the existing friction elements and shifting gate mechanism, combining multiple functions into a unified structure. The centrifugal weights are positioned to interact directly with the shifting gate, and the membrane couples the friction elements to the centrifugal unit, creating a compact assembly that achieves high-speed capability without proportionally increasing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal device is segmented into discrete functional components: centrifugal weights for speed sensing, a membrane for force transmission, and a shifting gate for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates compact arrangement, reducing overall weight while maintaining high-speed performance capability.
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
Enables safe operation at rotational speeds up to 3600 rpm with controlled slippage and prolonged energy provision during failures, stabilizing electrical grids by ensuring energy delivery over a minimum duration.
Implementation Method 1
The centrifugal unit is moved by centrifugal force to interact with a shifting gate in dependence of the revolution speed of the driving coupling member
Implementation Method 2
a driving coupling member (3) engaged with a driven coupling member (5) by a frictional connection (6)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Safety coupling (1) comprising a driving coupling member (3) engaged with a driven coupling member (5) by a frictional connection (6). The frictional connection (6) can be disconnected by activation of a release element (17). The release element (17) can be activated by a centrifugal device (22) wherein a centrifugal unit (24) of the centrifugal device (22) is radial moveable to interact with a shifting gate (50) in dependence of the revolution speed of the centrifugal unit (24) and the slip between the driving coupling member (3) and the driven coupling member (5). The centrifugal device (22) comprises a stop (35) to limit the centrifugal force applied to the centrifugal unit (24).