Torque Coupling With Pressure Chamber for Wear-Compensated Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing torque transmission devices in wind power plants and other drive arrangements face challenges in reliably transmitting and limiting torques while maintaining simplicity and compensating for wear, as they often rely on torque-limiting slip elements that can be inefficient and prone to wear-related issues.
Innovation Solution
A torque transmission device featuring a second coupling device with an inner and outer hollow component, where the inner part has a pressure chamber filled with a pressure medium to adjust torque limitation, and friction surfaces that automatically compensate for wear through elastic spring-back, ensuring reliable torque transmission and limitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a torque-limiting slip element is used, then torque limitation is provided, but wear occurs and reliability decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical slip element with a friction-based torque limitation system using friction surfaces and adjustable pressure. This substitution eliminates the harmful slipping mechanism while maintaining torque limitation functionality through controlled friction between surfaces, thereby reducing wear and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements adjustable pressure on friction surfaces through a pressure adjustment mechanism, allowing the torque limitation value to be modified without changing the physical structure. This parameter change enables adaptive torque limitation while maintaining consistent friction surface contact, reducing wear compared to fixed slip elements.
2Reliability
If friction surfaces are pressed together with pressure medium, then torque transmission and limitation are reliable, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure medium serves multiple functions: it presses the friction surfaces together for torque transmission, enables adjustable torque limitation, and can be easily adjusted or released. This multi-functionality of the pressure medium justifies the addition of the pressure chamber and adjustment mechanism while providing comprehensive control over torque transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a pressure medium (pneumatic or hydraulic system) to apply and adjust pressure on the friction surfaces. This approach provides smooth, adjustable force application and easy control of torque limitation levels, achieving reliable torque transmission with a relatively simple and elegant mechanism.
3Reliability
If hollow components are used, then wear can be compensated automatically, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow components are designed to automatically compensate for wear through their elastic spring-back capability. As friction surfaces wear, the elastic deformation of the hollow components provides automatic adjustment, maintaining proper friction surface contact without external intervention. This self-compensating mechanism improves reliability while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple.
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
This solution enables reliable torque transmission and limitation, even with wear, by adjusting pressure in the pressure chamber to maintain surface pressure between friction surfaces, allowing for efficient operation and easy maintenance, particularly in wind power plants.
Implementation Method 1
The inner part of the second coupling device comprises a pressure chamber that can be filled with a pressure medium, via which for providing the torque limitation, a torque that is maximally transmittable by the friction surfaces is adjustable
Implementation Method 2
The inner part of the second coupling device comprises a first friction surface radially outside and the outer part of the second coupling device comprises a second friction surface radially inside adjoining the first friction surface radially outside and interacting with the first friction surface
Implementation Method 3
The two parts of the second coupling device, i.e., the inner part and the outer part, which provide the two friction surfaces, are each embodied as a hollow component. This has the advantage that wear on the second coupling device that may form during operation can be at least partly compensated automatically through automatic springing-back of the inner part of the second coupling device
Data Source
AI summary
A torque-transmitting apparatus for a drive assembly includes: a first coupling device for transmitting torque and compensating a shaft offset, and a second coupling device for transmitting and limiting torque, the first and second coupling devices being connected in series. The second coupling device includes an inner hollow part and an outer hollow part. The inner hollow part radially outwardly includes a first frictional surface and the outer hollow part radially inwardly includes a second frictional surface, which is connected to the first frictional surface and interacts therewith. The inner hollow part includes a fillable pressure chamber.