Segmented Wedge Pack Coupling Ring for Easier Repair Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional one-piece wedge pack rings for couplings are difficult to repair as they require time-consuming disassembly and reassembly due to their undivided and unsegmented design, making it laborious to address defects in fastening or spring elements.

Innovation Solution

The coupling ring is designed as a wedge pack ring with alternating fastening and spring elements that can be vulcanized into separate segments, allowing for radial screwing onto coupling parts, and featuring split end fastening elements with wedge parts for easy assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the wedge pack ring is designed as a one-piece undivided structure, then the structural integrity and strength are improved, but the ease of repair and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of repair
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling ring is divided into multiple segments (first coupling ring segment and second coupling ring segment) that can be separated from each other. Each segment contains fastening elements and spring elements that are vulcanized together. This segmentation allows the coupling ring to be disassembled for repair by separating the segments, while maintaining structural integrity when assembled, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the wedge pack ring is designed as a one-piece structure, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the time required for assembly and disassembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidtime required for assembly and disassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling ring is segmented into multiple separable parts that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This allows parallel manufacturing of segments, reducing overall manufacturing time, and enables quick disassembly for maintenance without requiring complete disassembly of a single large component, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening elements and spring elements are pre-vulcanized together to form complete segments before final assembly. This preliminary action allows segments to be prepared in advance and stored, enabling quick assembly by simply connecting the pre-prepared segments, thus reducing the time required for final assembly and disassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the wedge pack ring uses vulcanized fastening and spring elements, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to permanent bonding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of repair
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling ring is divided into segments that are vulcanized together, creating strong structural bonds within each segment. However, the segments themselves are designed to be separable from each other through mechanical interfaces. This allows the structure to maintain stability through vulcanization while enabling repair by separating segments without requiring cutting or destructive methods, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables quicker and easier assembly and repair of the coupling ring by allowing the segmentation of the wedge pack ring into separate segments that can be connected and disconnected for maintenance, reducing the complexity and time required for repairs.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic spring element (17), which is vulcanized to the adjacent fastening elements (10, 11) in a vulcanization process that is carried out at the same time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVulcanization:

Data Source

PatentEP3384172B1Coupling ring
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 KWD KUPPLUNGSWERK DRESDEN GMBH
  • EP3384172B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3384172B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3384172B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling ring (40) for couplings (50) having at least two coupling parts (8, 9). The object of the invention is to provide a coupling ring (40) for couplings which have at least two coupling parts (8, 9), which can be applied to the two coupling parts (8, 9) of the coupling in a simpler and easier manner during installation, in particular in the event of a repair for defects in the coupling ring designed as a wedge packet ring (40) and in the coupling region of the wedge packet ring. The aim is achieved by a coupling ring as a wedge packet ring comprising at least two coupling parts, wherein the wedge packet ring is divided into at least two one-piece ring segments (21, 22, 24, 25, 26) from an alternate arrangement of the securing elements (10, 11) and the spring elements (17), wherein the one-piece ring segments (21, 22, 24, 25, 26) are fitted with apportioned closure securing elements (34, 35) which are located at the respective end regions on a ring segment and are provided to form a closure (38), wherein the apportioned closure securing elements (34, 35) connecting the ring elements each have wedge parts (341, 342; 351, 352; 342, 353; 344, 354) which are each adapted to each other and have bores (12, 13) that are radially directed towards the ring axis (23), wherein the correspondingly adapted wedge parts (341, 342; 351, 352; 342, 353; 344, 354) can each be combined together to form a radial screw connection (201) on one of the two coupling parts (8, 9).