Torque-Limiting Damper With Inclined Sliding Surface Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dampers face issues with torque transmission due to excessive deformation and potential gaps between sliding surfaces caused by high pressing forces from biasing members, leading to inefficiencies in torque regulation.
Innovation Solution
A damper design featuring a surface-hardened lining plate with an inclined second sliding surface and a biasing mechanism that presses the first sliding surface against the second sliding surface, allowing for controlled slipping when torque exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing the likelihood of gaps and maintaining effective torque regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large pressing force is applied by the biasing member to increase frictional force for torque regulation, then the torque threshold control is improved, but the first cover plate deforms and gaps are generated between the sliding surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The second sliding surface is pre-inclined relative to the first abutting surface in the free state of the first cover plate. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that when the biasing member applies pressing force, the sliding surfaces maintain contact without generating gaps, even under high pressing forces required for reliable torque threshold control.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the second sliding surface is optimized to balance two requirements: providing sufficient normal force for reliable torque threshold control while minimizing deformation-induced gaps. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the system achieves both reliable torque regulation and maintained sliding surface contact.
2Device complexity
If the second sliding surface is made perpendicular to the first abutting surface, then the structure is simplified, but gaps are generated between the sliding surfaces when the cover plate deforms under pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a simple perpendicular configuration, the second sliding surface is pre-inclined at a specific angle relative to the first abutting surface. This preliminary angular configuration compensates for the deformation that occurs when the biasing member applies pressing force, ensuring that the sliding surfaces remain in contact and preventing gap formation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lining plate and first cover plate are made of metal materials with direct sliding surfaces, then the number of components is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but deformation and gap formation occur under high pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The geometric parameter of the second sliding surface is changed from a perpendicular configuration to an inclined configuration. This angular modification allows the metal-to-metal sliding interface to maintain contact under high pressing forces while preventing gap formation, thus preserving the benefits of component reduction and cost reduction without sacrificing reliability.
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 design effectively suppresses excessive torque transmission by ensuring the sliding surfaces remain in contact, reducing the risk of deformation and maintaining efficient torque regulation without generating gaps, thus enhancing the damper's performance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element that elastically expands and contracts in response to relative rotation of the first rotating element and the second rotating element
Implementation Method 2
a frictional force between the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface is required to set the threshold value of the torque in the limiter
Implementation Method 3
a lining plate having a first sliding surface which faces a first direction along an axial direction of the rotation center and is surface-hardened
Data Source
AI summary
A damper includes: first and second rotating elements rotatable around a rotation center; an elastic element elastically expanding and contracting in response to relative rotation of the first and second rotating elements; and a limiter provided in the first rotating element. The limiter includes a lining plate having a first sliding surface, a first cover plate having a second sliding surface and a first abutting surface, a second cover plate having an outer edge part and an inner edge part, and a biasing member. When a difference in torque between the lining plate and the first cover plate is a predetermined value or more, the first sliding surface slides with the second sliding surface, and the second sliding surface is inclined with respect to the first abutting surface so as to face the second direction as going radially inward in a free state of the first cover plate.