Sealed Drive Shaft Coupling for Pressurized Fluid Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a fluid-tight drive shaft coupling that can quickly and easily connect a rotary tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine, while also sealing pressurized water to maintain operational efficiency in heat exchanger tube cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system comprising a driver manifold assembly and a driven shaft assembly, where the driver manifold assembly is affixed to the machine housing with a concentric latching collar and retainer ring, forming a watertight seal with the driven shaft assembly, allowing for quick attachment and release, and enabling the transmission of rotary motion and pressurized water through the coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rigid coupling is used to connect the drive shaft, then the connection is strong and reliable, but the attachment and release process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into two separate assemblies: a driver manifold assembly fixed to the machine housing and a driven shaft assembly attached to the cleaning shaft. This segmentation allows the driven shaft assembly to be quickly attached and detached from the driver manifold assembly, reducing connection time while maintaining reliability through dedicated coupling interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system incorporates a latching mechanism with movable latch arms that can be quickly engaged and disengaged. The latch arms are spring-biased to automatically engage with the driven shaft assembly when attached, providing rapid securement without manual intervention, thus reducing attachment time while ensuring reliable connection.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling is designed for quick connection and release, then the operation speed increases, but the fluid sealing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the driver manifold assembly and driven shaft assembly. The seal engages with a sealing surface on the driven shaft assembly to prevent pressurized water leakage, maintaining fluid sealing reliability while allowing the quick-connection latching mechanism to secure the two assemblies together.
Solution Approach 2:
The driven shaft assembly is inserted into and nested within the driver manifold assembly. This nested configuration allows the fluid seal to be positioned between the two assemblies, creating an effective barrier against pressurized water leakage while maintaining a compact, quickly attachable structure.
3Productivity
If a sealed coupling is used to contain pressurized water, then the operational efficiency is maintained, but the connection mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The driver manifold assembly serves multiple functions: it houses the fluid seal to maintain pressurized water containment, provides mounting for the latching mechanism to enable quick connection, and includes the drive shaft interface for power transmission. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall coupling structure while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid sealing function and the mechanical connection function are merged into a single integrated coupling interface. The latching mechanism and fluid seal work together in a unified assembly, eliminating the need for separate sealing components and simplifying the connection process while maintaining both security and fluid containment.
4Reliability
If the coupling components are made robust to withstand high pressure fluid, then the durability increases, but the weight and size of the coupling increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling components are designed with local reinforcement only where needed to withstand high pressure. The driver manifold assembly and driven shaft assembly have strengthened sealing surfaces and latching points at critical stress areas, while other portions maintain lighter weights. This localized strengthening provides sufficient pressure resistance without unnecessarily increasing overall coupling weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling for connecting a rotating tube cleaning shaft to a tube cleaning machine where high pressure fluid is pumped through the coupling, where the coupling is sealed to contain the high pressure fluid, and where a machine driven rotary flexible shaft passes through the coupling.