Spherical Coupling Elements for Contamination-Tolerant Torque Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling arrangements for connecting two elements in a rotationally fixed manner face challenges such as high manufacturing effort for positive locking elements and difficulty in maintaining play-free engagement, especially in contaminated conditions, while also requiring quick interchangeability and high torque transmission.
Innovation Solution
The design features coupling elements with spherical positive locking elements that engage via a point-shaped contact, allowing for high torque transmission without deformation and enabling contaminants to escape, with a distribution of elements over a partial circle for precise positioning and axial bracing to prevent spinning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional V-shaped teeth are used as positive locking elements, then torque transmission is achieved, but manufacturing effort is considerable and contamination prevents defined engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional V-shaped teeth with spherical positive locking elements. These spheres engage through point contact, eliminating the complex V-shaped geometry that requires considerable manufacturing effort. The spherical shape maintains reliable torque transmission while being simpler to manufacture, directly resolving the contradiction between engagement reliability and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the positive locking elements from extended V-shaped teeth to compact spheres with specific diameter relationships. The sphere diameter is designed to be between 0.5-2 times the distance to adjacent spheres, creating optimal point contact engagement. This parameter change enables reliable engagement while reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Strength
If V-shaped teeth are used for torque transmission, then coupling strength is achieved, but play-free engagement is difficult in contaminated conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical positive locking elements engage through point contact rather than surface contact like V-shaped teeth. This point contact geometry is inherently more resistant to contamination because contaminants cannot easily interfere with the precise point engagement, and the spherical shape allows for self-alignment that compensates for minor contamination. Torque transmission is maintained through the point contact between spheres.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple positive locking elements are distributed over a partial circle, then precise positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical shape of the positive locking elements simplifies their manufacture compared to V-shaped teeth, even when multiple elements are distributed over a partial circle. The spheres can be produced using standard bearing manufacturing techniques, and their uniform geometry reduces assembly complexity. The distributed arrangement achieves precise positioning while the simplicity of spherical components offsets the increased number of elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling arrangement (1) with two coupling elements (2, 3), each defining a longitudinal axis (X1, X2), and clamping means for axially clamping the coupling elements (2, 3) against each other, wherein a plurality of positive locking elements (8) are provided on mutually facing end faces (6, 7) of the coupling elements (2, 3), which project from the respective end face (6, 7) and are each arranged in a ring shape along a partial circle around the longitudinal axis (X1, X2) of the respective coupling element (2, 3), so that the positive locking elements (8) of one coupling element (2, 3) can be brought into engagement in the circumferential direction between the positive locking elements (8) of the other coupling element (2, 3) in order to couple the two coupling elements (2, 3) coaxially and rotationally fixedly to each other, wherein the positive locking elements (8) have a contour corresponding to a partial section of a sphere.Furthermore, the invention relates to a coupling element (2) and a method for coupling two coupling elements (2, 3).