Workpiece Carrier Ring-Gear Drive for Uniform High-Temperature Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece carrier devices face issues with achieving uniform rotation and efficient coating due to high actuating forces, complexity, and temperature-related geometry changes, leading to unsatisfactory coating results, especially with heavy workpieces and in high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece carrier device featuring a drive wheel with rotatable drive bodies and a stationary drive ring gear with internal teeth, where the axes of rotation are parallel to the main axis, allowing even transmission of the drive effect to all drive pinions, and utilizing involute gearing and laser-cut tooth geometries to accommodate temperature fluctuations and reduce manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crank mechanisms with eccentric discs are used to rotate workpiece carriers, then workpieces can be moved around the main axis, but high actuating forces are required making the drive heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex crank mechanism with eccentric discs with a simpler pinion-and-ring-gear system. The drive pinions engage with the stationary ring gear to rotate the drive wheel, eliminating the need for eccentric discs and crank mechanisms. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining the rotational function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic eccentric disc component from the drive system. By using a stationary ring gear fixed to the coating chamber wall instead of moving eccentric discs, the design removes the source of high actuating forces and mechanical complexity.
2Ease of operation
If gear drives with tooth geometries are used, then workpiece carriers can be driven, but high manufacturing effort is required and thermal changes impair function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the gear tooth geometry parameters to be less sensitive to thermal expansion. By designing the tooth profiles and clearances with appropriate tolerances and geometric parameters, the system accommodates temperature fluctuations between 20°C and 600°C without impairing meshing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a working clearance between the drive pinions and the stationary ring gear that allows for thermal expansion. The dynamic adjustment of meshing conditions through proper clearance design enables the gear system to maintain functional engagement across wide temperature ranges.
3Manufacturing precision
If workpieces are arranged in crown-like configuration and rotated, then uniform coating can be achieved, but imbalances prevent uniform rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses rotation uniformity by ensuring proper balancing of the drive wheel and workpiece carriers. The stationary ring gear provides a stable reference that helps maintain uniform rotational motion, counteracting imbalances caused by workpiece arrangement in crown-like configuration.
4Quantity of substance
If heavy workpiece arrangements are used, then coating capacity is increased, but high actuating forces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive system into multiple drive pinions distributed around the drive wheel, each engaging with the stationary ring gear. This segmentation distributes the actuating force required to move heavy workpiece arrangements across multiple contact points, reducing the force burden on any single drive element.
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
Ensures uniform rotation and efficient coating by evenly transmitting the drive effect to all drive pinions, maintaining operation across a wide temperature range while reducing manufacturing effort and wear, thus improving coating uniformity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a stationary drive ring gear (9) with internal teeth that mesh with the drive pinions (8)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a workpiece carrier device (1) comprising: a drive gear (3) for receiving workpiece arrangements (4), which is rotatable about a main axis (2), a number of drive bodies (6), which are arranged on the drive gear (3), are respectively rotatable about an axis of rotation (5) and each have a drive pinion (8) and a stationary internal input gear (9) with an inner toothing, which meshes with the drive pinions (8), wherein the axes of rotation (5) extend parallel to the main axis (2) and are arranged in an annular region of the drive gear (3) that runs concentrically in relation to the main axis (2), and so, when there is rotation of the drive gear (3) relative to the internal input gear (9), the drive bodies (6) rotate about their respective axes of rotation (5), wherein the internal input gear (9) and the drive bodies (6) with their drive pinions (8) are formed and arranged in relation to one another and a working clearance (S) is provided between the internal input gear (9) and the drive pinions (8) such that a driving effect is transferred to all of the drive pinions (8) equally during operation. The invention also relates to a coating arrangement 100 comprising such a workpiece carrier device (1).