Working Spindle Radial Clamping for Easy Shaft Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tool working spindles face challenges in maintaining tool holding fixtures and addressing wear issues, such as bearing wear, without requiring disassembly of the spindle or drive unit, especially when transitioning between rotational and stationary tool operations.
Innovation Solution
A working spindle design featuring a spindle housing with a through-opening, a spindle shaft supported by two roller bearings, and a braking unit with torque-proof connections, allowing for axial removal and reinsertion of the spindle shaft for maintenance without disassembly, and enabling both rotational and stationary tool operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the tool holding fixture is exchanged to address wear or damage, then the tool holding capability is restored, but this does not remedy bearing wear and requires disassembly of the spindle housing for comprehensive maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle system is divided into separable modules: the spindle shaft with integrated roller bearings forms one removable module, while the spindle housing remains stationary. This segmentation allows the spindle shaft module to be extracted and replaced without disassembling the spindle housing, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle shaft is designed to be extractable from the spindle housing through a through-opening. This extraction capability allows maintenance personnel to remove the entire spindle shaft assembly (including bearings) without disassembling the housing structure, enabling comprehensive maintenance while avoiding complex disassembly procedures.
2Ease of operation
If the spindle shaft is made removable for maintenance purposes, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the coupling for the drive and the braking unit may become blocking elements
Solution Approach 1:
The braking unit is designed with asymmetric local qualities: the first part (connected to the spindle shaft) has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the roller bearings, creating clearance that allows the spindle shaft to be removed axially without removing the braking unit. This local dimensional differentiation resolves the blocking issue while maintaining the braking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking unit is segmented into two separately removable parts: the first part remains on the spindle shaft during axial removal, while the second part stays in the spindle housing. This segmentation allows the spindle shaft to be extracted without requiring complete disassembly of the braking unit, maintaining ease of operation while managing device complexity.
3Ease of repair
If the spindle shaft is axially removed from the spindle housing, then maintenance of roller bearings is facilitated, but the axial position of the spindle shaft must be precisely maintained upon reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The roller bearings are pre-mounted on the spindle shaft before insertion into the spindle housing. This preliminary action ensures that the bearings are already in their correct positions relative to the spindle shaft, so when the assembly is reinserted, the axial position is automatically maintained without requiring precise alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller bearings act as intermediaries that maintain the axial position relationship between the spindle shaft and spindle housing. By keeping the bearings on the spindle shaft during removal and reinsertion, they serve as positioning elements that ensure accurate axial placement without requiring additional alignment mechanisms.
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
Facilitates easy maintenance and versatile operation by allowing the spindle shaft to be removed and reinserted without disassembly, maintaining the axial position of the tool holding fixture and enabling efficient transitions between rotational and stationary tool operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least two roller bearings (12, 13) that are arranged with an axial distance from each other on the spindle shaft (14), the at least two roller bearings being located in the spindle housing (11) in order to rotatably support the spindle shaft (14) in the spindle housing (11)
Implementation Method 2
a braking unit (25) comprising a first part (27) that is connected with a spindle shaft (14) in a torque-proof manner and a second part (26) that is connected with the spindle housing (11) in a torque-proof manner
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive working spindle comprises a spindle housing and a spindle shaft with axial positioning surface and axial contact surface by which the correct axial position of each fitting provided spindle shaft in the spindle housing is obtained. For torque-proof holding of the spindle shaft in the spindle housing, preferably with stationary motor, a braking unit is provided that comprises a radial outer part that is coupled with the spindle housing in a torque-proof manner and a radial inner part that is coupled with the spindle shaft in a torque-proof manner. The largest outer diameter of the peripheral surface of the inner part is smaller than the narrowest location of the through-opening of the spindle housing between the braking unit and the tool side end of the spindle housing. For this reason the spindle shaft can be readily removed from the spindle housing without disassembly measures of the braking unit, if required, and can be reinserted in reverse route. The inventive working spindle is simply constructed and can be versatilely used. Concurrently it is remarkably easy to maintain.