Integrated Spindle Nut Clutch for Compact Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spindle drives in electric presses face challenges with peak forces during end-contact or collision travel, leading to potential damage, and existing overload clutches require significant installation space and have limitations in disengagement and re-engagement mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive with an integrated rotary overload clutch, where the spindle nut is part of the clutch system and housed within the spindle drive, allowing torque transmission only up to a defined overload torque, and featuring a compact design with radial and axial bearings for supporting the spindle nut, enabling efficient force transmission without excessive space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional overload clutches are used to limit peak forces, then protection against damage is improved, but installation space and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overload clutch function directly into the spindle nut structure. The clutch elements are integrated with the thread groove and nut body, eliminating the need for separate clutch housings and mounting space. This merging approach maintains damage protection while significantly reducing installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle nut is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the threading mechanism for linear motion conversion, supports radial and axial loads through integrated bearings, and incorporates the overload protection function through integrated clutch elements. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If linear overload clutches are used, then protection against peak forces is improved, but overall length and disengagement stroke are excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a linear clutch arrangement where clutch elements move axially over long distances, the patent inverts the approach by using a rotary clutch mechanism within the spindle nut. The clutch elements engage and disengage through rotational movement rather than linear displacement, dramatically reducing the overall length and disengagement stroke while maintaining protection functionality.
3Force
If torque is introduced into the spindle nut, then linear force transmission is improved, but anti-rotation safeguards and radial bearings are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anti-rotation function with the clutch mechanism itself. The clutch elements are positioned and configured to prevent rotational movement of the spindle nut relative to the spindle, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation safeguards. The same clutch elements that provide overload protection also serve as the anti-rotation mechanism.
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 limits peak forces during end-contact or collision travel, maintains high linear force transmission, and reduces the overall length and mass moment of inertia, allowing for compact installation and reduced wear, while enabling precise control of disengagement forces.
Implementation Method 1
a radial bearing for supporting the spindle nut in the housing in the radial direction
Implementation Method 2
an axial bearing for supporting the spindle nut in the housing in the axial direction
Implementation Method 3
Spring-loaded latching elements in the form of balls, cones or cylinders transmit the forces via correspondingly designed shaped grooves
Implementation Method 4
Power transmission between the spindle and the spindle nut takes place directly via the flanks of the thread grooves in the form of sliding friction
Implementation Method 5
the spindle and the spindle nut are connected to one another via one or more threads
Data Source
AI summary
A spindle drive having a spindle, a spindle nut which is arranged on the spindle, a housing which surrounds the spindle nut, and an overload clutch which is arranged in the housing. The spindle nut and the housing are connected to one another via the overload clutch. The overload clutch is set up to disconnect the spindle nut from the housing in a torque-free manner if a defined overload torque which acts between the spindle nut and the housing is exceeded.