Variable-Pitch Spindle Gear With Self-Adapting Thread Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle gears with varying thread pitches are complex and expensive to produce, limiting their versatility and ease of adaptation for different applications.
Innovation Solution
A spindle gear design featuring a freely movable thread element that automatically adapts to the varying pitch of the spindle thread, allowing for flexible pitch configuration without the need for elastic deformation, enabling the transmission of varying forces and torques across different axial portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pitch of the spindle thread varies discontinuously in small alternate steps to fix a workpiece, then the workpiece can be fixed between the spindle and the nut, but the configuration becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The thread component is divided into multiple individual thread elements that can move independently relative to each other. Each thread element can adapt to different pitch portions of the spindle thread, allowing the system to achieve variable pitch functionality without requiring a complex overall structure. This segmentation enables the thread component to interact with different pitch portions (first pitch portion for clamping, second pitch portion for positioning) through simple relative movements of the thread elements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pitch portions transition continuously without interruption, then the spindle gear can be produced more easily, but the ability to provide intermediate stops and precise positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The thread elements are designed to be movable relative to each other, enabling dynamic adaptation to different pitch portions of the spindle thread. This dynamic capability allows the system to switch between continuous pitch regions and discrete pitch portions, providing both ease of manufacture (through continuous pitch sections) and intermediate stop functionality (through discrete pitch portions with zero or small pitch values). The movable thread elements can engage with different pitch portions as needed, achieving versatility without complicating the overall structure.
3Force
If a small pitch is used over an axial portion to transmit higher forces, then higher forces can be transmitted, but the relative travel distance becomes shorter
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle thread is designed with different pitch portions at different axial locations. The first pitch portion has a smaller pitch value optimized for high force transmission, while the second pitch portion has a larger pitch value optimized for longer travel distance. The thread elements can selectively engage with different pitch portions based on the operational requirements, allowing the system to provide both high force transmission capability and adequate travel distance without compromise.
4Length of moving object
If a large pitch is used over an axial portion to achieve greater relative travel, then the travel distance increases, but the force transmission capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle thread incorporates multiple pitch portions with different characteristics at different axial locations. The first pitch portion provides small pitch for high force transmission, while the second pitch portion provides large pitch for long travel distance. The movable thread elements enable selective engagement with different pitch portions, allowing the system to optimize for either force or travel distance depending on the operational phase, thereby resolving the contradiction between force transmission and travel distance.
Data Source
AI summary
In a spindle gear mechanism (1) having a spindle component (2) with a spindle thread (21) which has a pitch which alters over a longitudinal axis of the spindle component (2), and having a threaded component (3) which engages in the spindle thread (21), wherein the two components (2; 3) can be displaced relative to one another in relation to the longitudinal axis (1) of the spindle component (2), provision is made, for the purpose of straightforward production capability and suitability for a large number of applications, for the threaded component (3) to have at least one freely movable threaded element (4) which engages in the spindle thread (21) and, during operation, adapts automatically to the pitch of the spindle thread (21).