Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Torque transmitted via intermediate element
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-09-04
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Torque transmitted via intermediate element
C464S169000, C464S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283869
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a toothed coupling and in particular to a double toothed coupling for rail vehicles, essentially consisting of a coupling housing and at least one coupling component fitted inside the housing, the coupling component has first teeth in its peripheral region and the coupling housing has second teeth in its peripheral region which form engaging teeth with the first teeth of the coupling component which are movable in relation to one another, and there is at least one annular disc-shaped support cover protecting the engaging teeth at the respective faces between the coupling housing and the coupling component.
These toothed couplings are employed in most different areas of motive power engineering, such as for connecting a driving shaft to a driven shaft, when they consist of two torsionally rigid coupling components and when a relative movement occurs between the two shafts due to radial, vertical and/or angular displacements which needs to be compensated for by the coupling. The relative motion between coupling housing and coupling components including shafts, as a result, is transferred to the first and second teeth of the engaging teeth.
A toothed coupling and, in particular, a double toothed coupling for rail vehicles is disclosed in publication DE-GM 93 09 829.4 in which internally toothed coupling components are connected with an externally toothed coupling housing.
Between coupling housing and internal support cover, a coil spring is provided which serves to keep the coupling components in axial position. A disadvantage of the coil springs is that during rotation, imbalance and wear occur between spring and spring support with the rotating coupling due to its freely moving windings.
The radial faces between the coupling housing and the coupling components are completely sealed by means of elastic diaphragm sealing rings with convex front ends.
As the coupling rotates, the radial annular bulging of the diaphragm sealing rings may be reversed due to the strong centrifugal force thus possibly reducing the service life of the diaphragm sealing rings.
Moreover, the printing DE 295 06 461 reveals a double toothed coupling in which a contact-free gap seal consisting of a cover secured to the coupling housing is provided between the coupling housing and the coupling components as well as an additional sealing protection cap. In case of heavy strain, medium can flow through the still existing gap which finally does not represent a complete sealing.
Since there are generally no centring coil springs inside the coupling, ring elements to restrict displacement which are arranged opposite to each other with respect to their axial direction and consist of an elastic material are provided in order to limit the relative movement of the external gear between its internal and external areas; on the long term, said ring elements, however, are likely to wear out and are unable to centre the coupling.
A brochure “
Bogenzahnkupplungen, Basis Baureihen für Industrie-, Schiffs- und Meerestechnik
”
1
,
FIG. 9
, printed in 1991, shows a toothed coupling featuring a diaphragm sealing ring at the front end and an internally mounted dynamic coil spring. Each coil spring is positioned between the respective internal flange covers and coupling components inside the coupling component chamber. The diaphragm sealing rings mounted at front ends provide that the coupling housing is completely sealed against the external area of the coupling component. In this embodiment, too, imbalance and wear occur as the coupling rotates due to the behaviour of the prestressed coil spring.
1
“Curved teeth coupling, basic series for industrial, shipping and marine technology”
In the international patent application Wo 95/27151 a double coupling is disclosed, in which two internal coupling components are enclosed by a coupling housing. The internal teeth of the coupling components are positioned on a gear ring or gear star with circumferential round openings in axial direction which are directed towards the externally located support covers and in which the coil springs are arranged in such a way that they contact the annular support cover of the coupling housing. Since the individual coil springs are fitted in a highly elaborate manner into the multi-part support cover which has a conical shape with respect to the exterior of the coupling component and in that these support covers are screwed to the external face of the coupling so that they can be adjusted, they serve to centre the engaging teeth. With this configuration, too, media can be exchanged through the existing wedge-shaped tiny gaps at front ends between the components of the support cover. In the known toothed coupling sealings are subject to wear.
The aim of the invention therefore is to develop a toothed coupling which is designed in such a way that the exchange of media and, with the coupling rotating, irregular running, imbalance and wear of the sealing elements is prevented.
This is achieved by the features in claim
1
. In the toothed coupling according to the generic term in claim
1
, between the coupling housing and each coupling component, there is at least one axial corrugated pipe secured to at least one of both parts which seals the engaging teeth and also resiliently sets a predetermined position of the coupling housing.
Although, depending on how the peripheral regions of coupling housing and coupling components are positioned to each other, the engaging teeth and the corresponding corrugated pipes can be placed accordingly, i.e. outside or within the peripheral region of the coupling housing, the invention will be discussed hereunder in detail with respect to a toothed coupling in which the peripheral region of the coupling components faces the coupling housing.
Accurate dimensions of the corrugated pipes provide for non-slipping torque transmission.
Through the use of corrugated pipes, it is possible to save several parts for sealing and spring support. Referring to the invention, the smoothness of running is substantially improved by the shape and arrangement of the corrugated pipes.
The corrugated pipe is preferably shaped in the form of a bellow consisting of corrosion-proof material.
The corrugated pipe may be axially mounted with or without pretension between the coupling housing or the coupling housing components connected to the coupling housing and one coupling component respectively and, in case of axial relative movement of the coupling components, ensures that the coupling housing sets to its predetermined position preferably in the centre between both coupling components.
At its outer edge region at the front ends, the corrugated pipe may either be fitted with annular or flange-like fastening elements which are preferably arranged parallel in relation to each other. The fastening elements may consist of a plurality of rings, the outer edge region of the corrugated pipe being bonded to one of these rings particularly by welding.
Depending on the rigidity requirements, this corrugated pipe may be single-walled or multi-walled, the corrugated pipe preferably has a simple shape or is formed in multiple meanders as regards to its longitudinal section.
Depending on the intended strain, the corrugated pipe features an undulated geometry in which the outer envelope of the corrugated pipe preferably has a cylindrical or tapered shape or the like.
The radial support cover basically consists of an external fastening element and an internal fastening component and, depending on the position of the engaging teeth, is connected either to the coupling housing or the coupling component and to the corrugated pipe via its internal fastening component preferably by means of cramping or welding and largely covers the corresponding axial free space at front ends.
If the corresponding peripheral region of the coupling components is inside the coupling housing, the coupling components are provided with an annular recess preferably with a cavity-shaped cross section around its circumference at the respective front ends with resp
Browne Lynne H.
Kasper Horst M.
KWD Kupplungswerk Dresden GmbH
Thompson Kenn
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