Shaft Clamping Device with Flat Spline Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing braking and clamping devices require significant installation space, are not low-maintenance, and do not quickly release clamping forces without causing wear to the shaft, especially when high clamping forces are needed.
Innovation Solution
A braking and clamping device with multiple friction blocks arranged around a shaft, actuated by spring and compressed air forces, utilizing a flat spline mechanism to amplify forces and featuring friction elements that contact the shaft via surface or line contact, supported outside the friction zone, allowing for quick release and minimal wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common cylinder-piston unit is used to relieve all sliding spline gears, then the device structure is simplified, but the release reaction is delayed and clamping forces are not released quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The common cylinder-piston unit is divided into individual cylinder-piston units for each friction block. This segmentation allows each friction block to be relieved independently and simultaneously, enabling quick release reaction while maintaining simplified individual structures.
2Force
If friction elements are supported inside the friction zone, then the clamping force is increased, but the shaft is abrasively damaged and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The friction elements have different support locations: the friction zone contacts the shaft to generate clamping force, while the support zone is positioned outside the friction zone on the housing to prevent shaft abrasion. This local differentiation allows high clamping force with minimal wear.
3Force
If the friction blocks are arranged in multiple rows, then the clamping force is amplified, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction blocks are arranged axially along the shaft in multiple rows rather than only radially. This utilizes the axial dimension to amplify clamping force through combined action of multiple friction blocks, achieving high clamping force within compact radial space.
4Device complexity
If spring force alone is used to actuate friction blocks, then the device structure is simplified, but the clamping force magnitude is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation system merges spring force and compressed air force in a unified cylinder-piston unit. The spring provides baseline clamping force and automatic return, while compressed air amplifies the force magnitude when actuation is required, achieving high clamping force with integrated simple structure.
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 provides a compact, low-maintenance device that generates high clamping forces with quick release capabilities, minimizing wear on the shaft and ensuring reliable operation in machine tools and measuring machines.
Implementation Method 1
The spring (71, 72) can be compressed by the piston (63) via the cage (81) and sliding wedge (66) when the shaft (1) is to be released. The arrow (F) indicates the direction of the spring force.
Implementation Method 2
In order to quickly actuate the friction blocks (60), a compressed air system (31, 42, 64) is provided. Compressed air can be introduced into the cylinder-piston units (25, 27) via the air lines (31, 42) connected to the latter.
Implementation Method 3
The spring and compressed air forces are each amplified into clamping forces with the aid of, for example, a flat spline mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has a frictional locking mechanism operated by a sliding edge gear, which is moved in direction to load the frictional locking mechanism by a spring force and/or compressed-air. The frictional locking mechanism is mounted in housing and includes friction element (91) pressed on a shaft. The friction element with friction zone lies on a surface or a region of a linear contact on the shaft, where an external friction zone of friction element is supported on the housing. The friction element is arranged between a set of fixing eyelets.