Self-Aligning Coupler With 3-DOF Tie Rod for Misaligned Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplers lack the ability to connect shafts that are far apart and have limited flexibility, leading to frequent fractures and failures, as they do not account for planar misalignment and sufficient degrees of freedom in motion transmission.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning coupler design featuring a tie rod with three degrees of freedom, allowing movement in directions P, Q, and R, and adjustable length, along with insert guides and screw nut assemblies, to securely connect and transmit rotational motion between shafts inclined and located in different planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If universal couplers are used to connect shafts, then motion transmission is achieved, but the connection has limited degree of freedom causing frequent fractures and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler incorporates a tie rod with three degrees of freedom that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The tie rod includes a first degree of freedom for movement along its longitudinal axis, a second degree of freedom for movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a third degree of freedom for rotational movement, allowing the connection to adapt to varying shaft misalignments while maintaining reliable power transmission.
2Length of moving object
If rigid couplings are used to connect shafts, then structural stability is maintained, but shafts positioned far apart cannot be connected
Solution Approach 1:
The tie rod is designed with adjustable length capability through a screw mechanism that allows the distance between the two couplers to be varied. This dynamic adjustment feature enables the connection of shafts positioned far apart while maintaining structural stability through the rigid yet adaptable tie rod construction that can be configured for specific distance requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing couplings are used for misaligned shafts, then some flexibility is provided, but planar misalignment is not accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler system provides comprehensive flexibility to accommodate various types of misalignment through the three degrees of freedom of the tie rod. The first degree of freedom allows adjustment for axial misalignment, the second degree of freedom accommodates perpendicular misalignment, and the third degree of freedom handles rotational misalignment, ensuring reliable operation even when shafts are inclined at angles to each other in different planes.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-aligning coupler 100 for power transmission between misaligned and non-collinear driving shaft and driven shaft is disclosed. The self-aligning coupler 100 has at least a first extreme position, an intermediate position and a third extreme position. The first coupler 104 is connected to the second coupler 112 by a tie rod 108. One end of the first coupler 104 includes a central hole 320 for receiving a driving shaft and another end of the first coupler 104 includes a first arcuate opening 324 for receiving the tie rod 108. One end of the second coupler has a central hole 326 including a driving shaft and another end of the second coupler 112 has a second arcuate opening 328. The tie rod 108 has three degrees of freedom of movement.