Compact Tool Turret with Internal Drive and Swivel Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool turrets in industrial manufacturing are large in size, limiting their range of application due to the need for a common drive device to swivel and drive machining tools, which results in inefficient use of space and stability issues during machining operations.
Innovation Solution
A compact tool turret design where the drive device is integrated inside the tool disk, with a gear train arrangement on the support column for swiveling the tool disk, and a coaxial coupling device for selective drive engagement, utilizing a Wolfrom planetary gear and hydraulic actuation for precise control and minimal space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common drive device is used to selectively drive the tool disk or machining tool, then the tool turret can perform both swiveling and machining operations, but the device size becomes large and the range of application is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive system into two separate drives: a first drive for rotating the tool disk and a second drive for rotating the machining tool. This segmentation allows each drive to be optimized independently, reducing the overall size while maintaining the capability to perform both swiveling and machining operations selectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the two drives at different axial locations along the drive shaft, utilizing the axial dimension to accommodate both drives without increasing the radial footprint. This dimensional arrangement enables compact integration of multiple drive functions within a limited space
2Ease of operation
If the drive device is moved into a first axial position to drive the tool disk, then the tool disk can be swiveled, but the second drive for the machining tool becomes uncoupled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-positions the two drives at different axial locations on the drive shaft, so that when the drive device is moved to a specific axial position, the appropriate drive is already aligned and coupled with its corresponding output. This preliminary arrangement ensures reliable coupling without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling device as an intermediary element that selectively connects the drive shaft to either the first drive or the second drive based on the required operation. This coupling mechanism ensures stable and reliable power transmission to the selected drive while preventing interference with the other drive
3Ease of operation
If the drive device is moved to a second axial position to drive the machining tool, then the machining tool can be rotated, but the drive for the tool disk becomes uncoupled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-positions the two drives at different axial locations on the drive shaft, so that when the drive device is moved to a specific axial position, the appropriate drive is already aligned and coupled with its corresponding output. This preliminary arrangement ensures reliable coupling without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling device as an intermediary element that selectively connects the drive shaft to either the first drive or the second drive based on the required operation. This coupling mechanism ensures stable and reliable power transmission to the selected drive while preventing interference with the other drive
4Device complexity
If the gear train arrangement is placed inside the tool disk, then the swivel drive is integrated, but the tool disk mass increases and affects machining stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gear train arrangement from the tool disk and relocates it to the drive shaft assembly. This extraction removes the heavy gear train mass from the rotating tool disk, reducing its moment of inertia and improving machining stability, while the gear train remains integrated with the drive system through the coupling device
5Speed
If a high transmission ratio is achieved with a Wolfrom planetary gear, then the swivel drive speed is reduced appropriately, but the installation space on the support column increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a Wolfrom planetary gear mechanism where gears are nested within each other in a compact arrangement. The planet gears are positioned within the annular space created by the sun gear and ring gear, allowing the high transmission ratio to be achieved in a minimal radial footprint on the support column
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 enables a compact, reliable, and precise tool turret system that meets tight manufacturing tolerances by separating the swivel drive from the tool disk, reducing mass and installation space, and ensuring stable tool positioning under high forces during machining.
Implementation Method 1
the gear train arrangement can have a Wolfrom planetary gear. Since a Wolfrom planetary gear will ensure a very high transmission ratio even in the case of the smallest possible space requirement, the support column, too, needs only a small amount of installation space to transform the relatively high speed of the drive shaft of the drive device, as required for the direct drive of the machining tool, into the comparatively low speed of the output shaft provided for the swivel drive.
Implementation Method 2
The coupling device, comprising the two drives, is mounted on the drive shaft in a rotationally rigid manner and can be displaced axially relative to the drive shaft. The axial displaceability of the coupling device on the drive shaft permits the assigned axial positions of the coupling device for the selective drive of the tool disk or the machining tool.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool turret includes a tool disk (2) swivelable about a support column (32) that defines a swivel axis (26) into positions in which at least one machining tool fastened to the tool disk (2) is in a machining position. A drive device (14) includes drives (10, 8) connected by a controllable coupling device (18) to outputs (20, 22) used to drive the tool disk (2) or the machining tool. The drive device (14) is arranged inside the tool disk (2) together with the drives (8, 10) and the output (22) used to drive the machining tool. The output used to drive the tool disk (2) in a swiveling manner has a gear train arrangement (34) outside the tool disk (2) on the support column (32). The gear train arrangement has an output shaft (70) that extends along the support column (32).