Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Housing – With rolling body supporting shaft in housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-12-11
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Housing
With rolling body supporting shaft in housing
C464S170000, C464S177000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328655
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an adapter system to connect the main shaft of a motor to a device to be driven, in particular to a pinion of a gearing.
Because the tasks to be performed in the field of motive power engineering are so diverse, it is important for particularly variable systems to be designed. On the one hand it should be possible to employ motors, in particular electric motors, of various types of construction; on the other hand, these electric motors should be able to drive apparatus of widely differing kinds, for example all sorts of gearings with corresponding (varied) driving pinions. Even when both the motors and the gearings are provided by a single manufacturer, so that there is no substantial problem with respect to fitting the parts together, the effort and expense of manufacturing and stocking the parts are nevertheless considerable. This is quite apparent from the laws of combinatorics, in view of the fact that different motors with different ways of being installed or mounted must be adapted to to gearings (or the reverse) that in turn have a variety of relevant dimensions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to disclose an adapter system to connect a main shaft of an (electric) motor to a device to be driven, in particular to a pinion of a gearing, which by simple means ensures a greater variability of combinations together with high operating reliability.
This object is achieved by an adapter system in accordance with the present invention.
It is an essential point of the invention that a system is created by means of which it is possible to compensate for the “imprecisions” encountered when different systems (motor/gearing) are put together.
In the case of the adapter system to connect a main shaft of an (electric) motor to a device to be driven, in particular to a pinion of a gearing, in accordance with the invention this is brought about by providing an adapter shaft with a pinion attachment at a first end to make rotationally stable connection with the pinion, a housing with means for supporting the adapter shaft with a first flange to be fixed to the gearing and with a second flange to be fixed to the motor such that the motor is substantially firmly connected to the gearing by way of the housing, a coupling element that is connected to the motor shaft in a rotationally stable manner and a first driving means on the coupling element and a second driving means on the second end of the adapter shaft, shaped to correspond to the first driving means and engaged therewith so as to transmit torque between the coupling element and the adapter shaft, the first and the second driving means being so constructed that they can move relative to one another at least in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the adapter shaft and at an angle to the axis of rotation.
Preferably the first and the second driving means are in addition so constructed as to be movable relative to one another in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the adapter shaft, with the result that the range of possible variations in adapting motors and gearings of different dimensions is further increased.
The adapter shaft is preferably mounted in the housing in a statically determined manner, which can be achieved in particular by providing two bearings spaced apart along the axis of rotation, preferably roller bearings disposed in the housing. As a result, there is no longer any need to provide in the gearing an additional bearing of the adapter shaft with pinion attached thereto. It is further possible to place on the shaft something other than the pinion, for example a pulley, so that instead of a spur gear, a belt drive train can be used as the device to be driven.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the first driving means comprises at least one notch with parallel walls, disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane passing substantially through the axis of rotation, in which case the second driving means comprises at least one projection, which can be inserted into the at least one notch. This embodiment of the invention is relatively easy to manufacture and nevertheless effective.
The at least one projection in this arrangement is made thinner than the at least one notch, to ensure a certain amount of play in the direction of rotation between the notch walls and the at least one projection, so that not only an axial offset but also an “angular error” can be compensated.
Preferably a separator is provided to be inserted between at least one of the notch walls and the at least one projection, in particular a separator such as to prevent direct contact between the projection and the notch walls (preferably in both directions).
In order both to reduce frictional wear and also to ensure that there is no play when the direction of the torque to be transmitted is reversed, the separator is preferably made elastically deformable and manufactured with dimensions such that it exerts a tensile force upon the at least one projection in the at least one notch. As a result, even when the direction of the load changes—as indicated above—impacts are avoided and the torque is transmitted without jolts. In addition, the separator is formed of a material suitable to reduce the friction between the notch walls and the at least one projection, which further reduces the susceptibility of the system to wear and tear.
Preferably the first flange is attached to a first half of the housing and the second flange, to a second half of the housing, the two half-housings being detachably joined to one another, in particular by threaded bolts. This measure makes the adapter system very easy to install.
It is especially preferred in this embodiment that a plurality of first and second half-housings is provided, in particular with first flanges that are different from one another as well as second flanges that are different from one another, to be connected to motors that are different from one another and/or to driven devices that are different from one another. These differing forms of each half-housing can then be combined with one another as desired, at least group-wise. This means that when three different kinds of device are to be driven, to which correspond three different first flanges, by three different motors, to which correspond three different second flanges, altogether only three first half-housings and three second half-housings are needed in order to create the maximal number of combinations, namely nine.
Preferably the bearing mechanisms for the adapter shaft are provided in a single one of the half-housings. As a result, during manufacture precise centring can be achieved in an especially simple way. The stability or stiffness of the bearing is likewise optimal.
Preferably also there is provided a plurality of adapter shafts to make connection with pinions that differ from one another, and a plurality of coupling elements to make connection with motor shafts that differ from one another. The variability of the adapter system can thereby be increased, in particular with respect to the torques of varying magnitude that are to be transmitted.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention a torque-transmitting mechanism is provided between the coupling element and the adapter shaft, which permits an at least temporary compensation of rotation-speed differences between the motor shaft and the device to be driven. Such a “functional subassembly” further increases the variability of the adapter system, so that the range of applications is broadened.
A torque-transmitting mechanism of this kind can consist of a sliding clutch, a fluid flywheel or a flexible coupling (or combinations thereof), depending on what is required for the intended use of the entire arrangement. Preferably in this case the driving means described at the outset is replaced by the torque-transmitting mechanism or coupling. This measure enables the production cost to be reduced.
As an additional supplementary function, in a preferred embodiment of the inve
Mensing Norbert
Oberländer Günter
Zimmermann Heinrich
Browne Lynne H.
Dunwoody Aaron M
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co.
LandOfFree
Adapter system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adapter system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adapter system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2581045