Universal Rolling Elements for Multi-Pitch Screw Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screw drive devices require significant design effort and component variations to accommodate different pitches, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A device design where rolling elements with specific groove offsets can be used across various screw drive variants, including single and multi-threaded spindles, by maintaining the same pitch circle diameter and allowing for symmetrical offset arrangements, reducing the need for multiple types of rolling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different variants of screw drives are designed to accommodate different pitches, then the adaptability to different applications is improved, but the device complexity and design effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling elements are designed with a universal groove structure that can accommodate multiple thread pitches through symmetrical offset arrangements. The same rolling element design can be used for single-threaded, double-threaded, and multi-threaded spindles by adjusting the offset pattern, making the rolling elements multi-functional across different screw drive variants
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the rolling element design for different pitches, the invention changes the offset parameter arrangement. By varying the offset distances and patterns of identical rolling elements, different thread pitches can be achieved with the same rolling element inventory, thus adapting to different applications without redesigning components
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple types of rolling elements are designed for different screw drive variants, then the manufacturing precision for specific pitches is improved, but the quantity of different parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single rolling element design serves multiple pitch requirements through different offset arrangements. The universal design maintains manufacturing precision for various pitches while reducing the quantity of different rolling element types to a minimum set that can be configured for different applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves different pitch accuracies by changing the offset parameters of identical rolling elements rather than manufacturing different rolling element types. This parameter-based adaptation reduces the number of unique parts while maintaining the required precision for each pitch variant
3Adaptability or versatility
If spindles with different numbers of gears are used to vary pitch, then the adaptability to different feed rates is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to required design adaptation of other components
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling elements are designed to be universally compatible with spindles having different numbers of gears. The same rolling element inventory can be used with single-threaded, double-threaded, or multi-threaded spindles by adjusting the offset arrangements, eliminating the need to redesign rolling elements when changing spindle configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the pitch determination function into two independent parts: the spindle geometry (number of gears) and the rolling element offset arrangement. This segmentation allows the rolling elements to remain unchanged while the spindle configuration varies, simplifying manufacturing by decoupling the design adaptation requirements
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 approach allows for the production of different screw drive variants with reduced design and manufacturing effort, using the same rolling elements across various configurations, thereby minimizing the number of parts and costs.
Implementation Method 1
one of which has an axial frictional connection with the external profile of the spindle and the other other creates an axial frictional connection with the nut
Implementation Method 2
rolling elements arranged in between, which have different profiles... The rolling bodies, which are rotatably mounted in spacer disks at the ends, roll at a specific rotational speed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device has a spindle (2), which includes an outer profile (3) in the form of thread. A nut (4) includes an inner profile (5) and surrounds the spindle. Rolling bodies (6) exhibit two different profiles, where one of the profiles produces an axial frictional connection for the outer profile of the spindle and the other profile produces an axial frictional connection for the inner profile of the nut. Different variants of thread impulse are formed by the utilization of the spindles. Same rolling bodies are used for all variants of thread impulse.