Shaft Coupling Phase Adjustment Without Long-Hole Slippage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coupling devices face issues with adjusting the relative rotational phase between shafts due to non-uniform fastening forces, leading to potential slippage when the fastening bolt hole is elongated, which affects the transmission of rotational force and stability.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device configuration that separates the second coupling member into a base member and a shaft mounting member with a long hole, allowing the restoring force to act on the base member, preventing slippage and enabling easy adjustment of the relative rotational phase by shifting the position of the fastening device through the long hole.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fastening bolt hole is transformed into a long hole to enable rotational phase adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to non-uniform fastening force distribution causing slippage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational phase adjustmentVSAvoidfastening stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second coupling member is divided into a base member and a shaft mounting member. The long hole is formed only in the shaft mounting member, which is detachably fixed to the base member. This segmentation allows the long hole to provide rotational phase adjustment capability while isolating it from the fastening function, preventing slippage at the fastening interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft mounting member acts as an intermediary between the shaft and the base member. It provides the long hole for rotational phase adjustment while being securely fastened to the base member, thereby mediating between the need for adjustability and the need for stable fastening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the fastening bolt hole is made into a long hole for phase adjustment, then the adaptability is improved, but the strength deteriorates due to non-uniform contact area distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection timing adjustmentVSAvoidfastening strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the second coupling member into base member and shaft mounting member, the long hole is confined to the shaft mounting member only. This ensures that the uniform contact area required for high fastening strength is maintained at the base member interface, while the shaft mounting member provides the long hole for timing adjustment adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the long hole is used for fastening to enable phase adjustment, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to slippage causing coupling device failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase adjustment mechanismVSAvoidslippage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation isolates the long hole to the shaft mounting member, which is detachably fixed to the base member. This prevents slippage at the fastening interface while maintaining the ease of phase adjustment. The shaft mounting member can be easily manufactured with the long hole and then securely attached to the base member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of slippage into a benefit by using the shaft mounting member as a detachable interface. The controlled detachability allows for easy assembly and disassembly without risking slippage during operation, turning a potentially harmful feature into a useful one for maintenance and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 configuration allows for precise adjustment of the relative rotational phase between shafts while preventing slippage, ensuring stable transmission of rotational force and improved durability by directing the restoring force away from the shaft mounting member.

Implementation Method 1

an intermediate member disposed between the first shaft and the second shaft in an extension direction of an axis of the coupling device, and allowing misalignment between the first shaft and the second shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11906003B2Coupling device and rotational phase adjustment method for coupling device

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER LTD

AI summary

A coupling device configured to transmit a rotational force between a first shaft and a second shaft, the device including a first coupling member mounted on the first shaft, a second coupling member mounted on the second shaft, and an intermediate member disposed between the first coupling member and the second coupling member, and configured to allow misalignment between the first shaft and the second shaft. The second coupling member includes a base member configured to be fixed to the intermediate member by a first fastening device, and a shaft mounting member configured to relatively non-rotatably be mounted on the second shaft, the shaft mounting member having a long hole extending along a circumferential direction of the above-described axis and being configured to detachably be fixed to the base member by a second fastening device inserted through the long hole.