Self-Centering Turntable for Unbalanced High-Speed Loads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unbalanced loads on turntables cause displacement of the rotation axis, leading to stress and vibration on the rotatable shaft and associated equipment, particularly at high rotation speeds, resulting in potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A self-centering turntable apparatus with an annular centering surface and a stud member that co-act to maintain the rotation axis alignment, using a centering plate and stud member with low friction contact surfaces, such as ball bearings, to automatically realign the axis when imbalance occurs, thereby minimizing vibration and stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an unbalanced load is placed on the turntable, then the turntable can process varied workloads, but the rotation axis displaces causing stress and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload handling capabilityVSAvoidrotation axis stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The turntable system performs self-centering automatically through the interaction between the annular centering surface and stud member. When the rotation axis displaces due to unbalanced load, the stud member contacts the annular centering surface, which generates restoring forces that automatically realign the axis without external intervention, thus maintaining reliability while handling varied loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The centering mechanism provides continuous feedback control for rotation axis alignment. The contact between the stud member and annular centering surface creates a feedback loop that detects axis displacement and automatically corrects it through the generated restoring forces, ensuring the turntable maintains proper alignment under varying load conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If high rotation speeds are used to increase productivity, then processing efficiency improves, but vibration and stress increase causing potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation speedVSAvoidvibration and stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The annular centering surface and stud member configuration provides preliminary anti-action against potential axis displacement. Before high-speed rotation can cause significant vibration or damage, the centering mechanism is already in place to prevent axis displacement by providing automatic realignment capability, thus allowing high-speed operation without the harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If a self-centering mechanism is added to maintain rotation axis alignment, then vibration and stress are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation axis alignmentVSAvoidmechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centering mechanism applies local quality by providing centering functionality only where needed - at the interface between the turntable and support structure through the annular centering surface and stud member. This localized approach achieves rotation axis alignment without requiring complex system-wide modifications, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively maintains the rotation axis alignment, reducing vibration and stress on the turntable and associated equipment, ensuring stable operation even under unbalanced conditions by automatically self-centering the axis, thus preventing damage and noise.

Implementation Method 1

an annular centering surface and a stud member positioned opposite the annular centering surface that co-act to maintain the rotation axis alignment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical contact: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The annular centering surface and the stud member are adapted to co-act to maintain the rotation axis alignment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeometric constraint: Geometry

Implementation Method 3

using a centering plate and stud member with low friction contact surfaces, such as ball bearings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentUS9248536B2Turntable

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for rotating a load about a predetermined rotation axis of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having a central longitudinal axis; a turntable fixedly mounted on the rotatable shaft; an annular centering surface; and a stud member positioned opposite the annular centering surface. Either the annular centering surface or the stud member is affixed to the turntable. The annular centering surface and the stud member are adapted to co-act to maintain the central longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft in alignment with the predetermined rotation axis of the apparatus.