Spinning Rotor Assembly Automatic Mechanical Brake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open-end rotor spinning machines face challenges in quickly stopping the spinning rotor when the housing is opened, which can lead to wear or damage of the bearing units and poses safety risks due to high rotational speeds exceeding 100,000 rpm.
Innovation Solution
A rotor brake mechanism that automatically engages when the spinning rotor assembly is moved from a closed to an open position, using a mechanical interaction between a brake lever, spring element, and braking surface to rapidly stop the rotor, ensuring safety and preventing damage to the bearing units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is opened to access the spinning rotor, then operator safety is compromised and bearing units are damaged, but the housing must remain openable for maintenance and cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor brake is pre-positioned and automatically engages when the housing is opened, stopping the rotor before the operator can be exposed to rotating parts. This preliminary braking action prevents safety incidents while maintaining housing accessibility for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake lever is positioned to automatically apply braking force as soon as the housing opens, creating a counter-action to the rotor's rotation. This preliminary anti-action neutralizes the dangerous rotating motion before it can harm the operator, while still allowing the housing to be opened for necessary maintenance tasks.
2Reliability
If the spinning rotor is stopped quickly when the housing is opened, then operator safety is improved and bearing units are protected, but mechanical wear on the brake components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction between the brake pad and rotor surface, which typically causes wear, is converted into a beneficial force that quickly stops the rotor. The controlled frictional contact protects the bearing units from damage while the brake components are designed to withstand this wear through proper material selection and geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake pad acts as an intermediary element between the brake lever and the rotor surface. It transfers the braking force while distributing the wear and heat, protecting both the bearing units from shock loads and the brake components from excessive mechanical stress.
3Reliability
If a mechanical brake system is used instead of an electrical one, then the system becomes independent of electrical power and more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is self-actuating through the mechanical movement of the housing. When the housing opens, the brake lever automatically engages the rotor without requiring external electrical signals or control systems. This self-service mechanism achieves power independence while keeping the control logic simple and inherent to the mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake activation function is merged with the housing opening motion itself. The same mechanical movement that opens the housing for maintenance also triggers the brake engagement, eliminating the need for separate electrical sensors, actuators, and control circuits. This merging reduces overall system complexity while achieving reliable power-independent operation.
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 rotor brake effectively stops the spinning rotor at high speeds, ensuring operator safety, preventing material entanglement, and protecting the bearing units from excessive forces, while being independent of electrical power and allowing for manual override for cleaning or shutdown.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (13) arranged between the brake lever (11) and the housing (4) on one side of the pivot axle (12)
Implementation Method 2
the brake pad (14) comprises a braking surface (8) to be brought in direct contact to a surface (9) of the spinning rotor shaft (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a spinning rotor assembly for a rotor spinning machine as well as a rotor spinning machine. To propose a rotor assembly of a rotor spinning machine which can be securely operated, in particular to avoid an injury of a user operating the rotor spinning machine and to prevent materials in the environment of the rotor spinning machine from being entangled in the fast-rotating spinning rotor, the spinning rotor assembly comprises a spinning rotor fixed to a spinning rotor shaft, the spinning rotor shaft being rotatably mounted to a housing of the spinning rotor assembly by at least one bearing unit, wherein the spinning rotor assembly is movable, in particular pivotally between a first and a second position, and wherein a rotor brake for braking the spinning rotor is pivotally mounted to the housing, so that the rotor brake is automatically engaged when the spinning rotor assembly is moved, in particular pivoted from the first to the second position.