Tool Turret Transmission Shaft for Zero-Gap Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools experience reduced precision and transmission delays due to gaps and inefficiencies in torque transmission paths, particularly in gearings, which affect the accuracy of machining operations.
Innovation Solution
A tool turret with a transmission shaft that includes a torque receiving section and a connecting section with a mating surface to eliminate gaps between gearings, allowing direct and precise torque transmission, and an axially movable and rotatable design for efficient engagement and disengagement of the tool holder, utilizing a sleeve fitting and pin arrangement for zero-gap intermeshing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional gearings are used for torque transmission, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but gaps occur at intersections of intermeshing gear wheels causing reduced precision and transmission delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the torque transmission function and the gap elimination function into a single integrated transmission shaft structure. The connecting-side section with mating surface is merged with the gearing structure, allowing the shaft itself to actively eliminate gaps through its geometric design rather than using separate adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mating surface acts as an intermediary element between the transmission shaft and the tool holder gearing. This intermediate geometric feature facilitates the active elimination of gaps by providing a contact surface that transmits force to close the gap between intermeshing gear teeth during the connecting process.
2Productivity
If gearings with gaps are used, then the device complexity is low, but transmission delays occur during torque transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The mating surface is designed to actively eliminate gaps during the connecting process before torque transmission begins. This preliminary action of gap closure ensures that the gearings are already in optimal meshing position when operation starts, preventing transmission delays without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed transmission shaft is used, then the structure is simple, but engagement and disengagement of the tool holder is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission shaft is designed with axial movability, transforming it from a fixed static component to a dynamic one. This axial movement capability allows the shaft to engage and disengage the tool holder gearing smoothly, improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity through straightforward mechanical motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool turret comprises a turret body having at least one connecting slot for replaceably mounting a tool holder TH to the tool turret and a transmission shaft S arranged at the connecting slot. The transmission shaft S is configured to transmit a drive torque to the mounted tool holder TH. The transmission shaft S has a torque receiving-side section S2 for receiving driving torque and a connecting-side section S3 for connecting to the mounted tool holder TH. The connecting-side section S3 has a first gearing S4 for transmitting the drive torque to a corresponding tool holder gearing TH3, wherein at the torque receiving-side section S2 a contacting part is provided for receiving the torque of the drive unit. A mating surface is provided at the connecting-side section (S3) of the transmission shaft S and the mating surface is arranged to contact to a surface of the mounted tool holder TH for interacting with the tool holder TH to remove a gap between the first gearing S4 and the corresponding mounted tool holder gearing TH3.