DE3132533A1 - Flexible coupling element for the play-free, torsionally rigid connection of two offset rotating shafts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible coupling element for the play-free, torsionally rigid connection of two offset rotating shafts, having two box-shaped flexible shear elements, which are preferably offset by 90 DEG relative to one another and the walls of which can be displaced parallelogram-fashion relative to one another. The shear elements are manufactured in one piece, preferably from fibre-reinforced laminar materials, the flexible joints 6 (similar to hinges) between the box walls (3, 4, 5) each being produced by tapering the material of the shear elements in the connecting region. The space requirement for the coupling elements can be reduced by nesting the two box-shaped shear elements so that one wall of each shear element projects through the internal space of the other shear element. The inner box walls (41'', 42'') of this coupling element are preferably designed as torsionally rigid boxes (14) on which the other walls of the coupling element are hinged via the hinge-like parts (6''). <IMAGE>

Description

Elastic coupling element for play-free, torsionally rigid

Connection of two mutually offset rotating shafts Die The invention relates to an elastic coupling element according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE-AS 20 43 837 such an elastic coupling element is known which two box-shaped, preferably offset from one another by 90 ° having elastic thrust elements. The thrust elements each consist of two opposite one another rigid box walls, one each with a shaft end and the other each is also connected to the other box wall of the adjacent push element. The box walls are mutually along two opposite edges with in rigid, with the edges articulated push webs connected. With a Such an elastic coupling element can cause slight misalignments of the two Waves are balanced by the elasticity of the thrust elements. The construction such thrust elements is in particular due to the articulated connection of the in rigid push bars with the box walls are quite expensive, which in this case consists of a spring steel bracket between the clamping points on the box walls is stiffened. Shall with this coupling element large torsional forces are transmitted, the coupling parts must be dimensioned accordingly be. With such heavy coupling elements, however, are already small Mass deviations high imbalances are to be feared, so that maintenance and control of such Coupling elements is increased.

This known coupling element can also be inserted one or more bellows are expanded in such a way that they are also crooked mutually arranged shafts are connected to one another in a torsionally rigid manner and free of play can.

From US-PS 1 764 348 an elastic coupling element for connection two off-axis shafts described, which in turn consists of two elastic box-shaped push elements. These push elements are each made of spring steel strips bent into the closed box shape. The two thrust elements are at an angle offset from each other by 900. Due to the elasticity of the spring steel bracket you can the thrust elements adapt to an axial offset of the two shafts. Likewise is here the transmission of rotary movements when the units are at a slight angle to one another Waves possible.

Even with such a coupling element, only limited torques can be achieved are transmitted if the coupling element is not deformed by torsional stress shall be. If these torques are to be increased, such torques must also be used Coupling elements are heavily reinforced, which inevitably makes the construction more complex will. This reduces both manufacturing and maintenance costs for such coupling elements higher. Imbalances can also occur to a greater extent.

Overall, these adverse properties also lessen for a long time Service life of the coupling element with reliable operation.

The invention is based on the object of a coupling element of Specify the type of simple design mentioned at the beginning, which with a long service life can be operated maintenance-free and which one with good torque transmission low mass and therefore - if at all - only has small imbalances that are easily can be compensated.

This object is according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1 solved.

The thrust elements for the coupling element according to the invention are accordingly one-piece parts, the articulated connections between the box walls of the thrust element and the box webs by each tapering of the thrust element material is generated in the connection area. These tapers form so-called quasi Joints.

The thrust elements are preferably made of fiber-reinforced materials manufactured and are built up e.g. in laminate form from fiber fabric mats, which with soaked in a synthetic resin and then cured. To increase the rigidity In the area of the box walls and the push bars, these laminate shapes can be sandwiched A foam material, e.g. a cut-to-size foam board, is used as the core of the sandwich is used.

Rotationally rigid with one another around axes that are offset from one another at an angle To be able to connect, the push webs each have a further one, to the two outer ones Quasi-joints parallel quasi-joint.

A particularly space-consuming construction of a coupling element if the two thrust elements are nested inside one another, so that the box wall of the one pushing element facing away from the respective shafts between the box walls of the other thrust element run. The two in the form of one Cross arranged, the waves facing away from the box walls of both thrust elements then rigidly connected to each other. This connection is made, for example, by sloping walls between the opposite edges of the individual thrust elements. In this case the result is a centrally located torsionally stiff box on which the around the Quasi-articulated swiveling push webs the box walls connected to the shafts are hinged.

A coupling element according to the invention is structurally very simple built up. Through the use of fiber-reinforced materials in laminate form and the inclusion of quasi-joints in the design is also the manufacture very easy. In addition, the mass of such coupling elements is in contrast to conventional coupling elements much smaller, if only for reasons of lower specific weight of the fiber-reinforced materials used. By Despite their low weight, these materials can produce thrust elements with high torsional rigidity so that high torques, e.g. between off-axis shafts can be transferred. The coupling elements are maintenance-free.

Due to the low weight and the manufacture of fiber-reinforced Materials in laminate form can practically avoid imbalances. Eventual small imbalances can be easily compensated.

Such coupling elements can be used, for example, to connect two parallel offset wheel axles are used by railroad cars.

Further refinements and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims in connection with the following description, in the three exemplary embodiments of coupling elements are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

The drawings show: FIG. 1 a perspective illustration of a coupling element according to the invention from two elastic push elements for torsionally rigid connection of two axially parallel offset shafts; Figure 2 a Partial section from Figure 1 to show the articulated connection in the thrust elements; FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a second embodiment a coupling element according to the invention for the torsionally rigid connection of two angular staggered waves; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the coupling element according to FIG 3; FIG. 5a shows a partially sectioned front view of a further coupling element according to the invention; FIG. 5b also shows a partially sectioned plan view the coupling element according to Figure 5a; Figure 6 shows a detail of that shown in Figures 5a and 5b shown coupling element to show the articulated connection with the thrust elements.

In the figures, the same reference symbols are used for the same elements, those for the second embodiment with a dash (') and for the third embodiment are marked with two dashes (").

A coupling element 1 according to Figure 1 has two box-shaped push elements 21 and 22 of the same construction. Every push element consists from two opposite and parallel aligned rectangular or square Box walls 3 and 4, which are on opposite edges by push bars 5 are connected to one another via quasi-joints 6. The box walls 3 and 4 are inherently rigid panels made of fiber-reinforced materials in laminate form, e.g. made of glass fiber mats glued together and cured. The push bars 5 are likewise inherently rigid and, as shown in FIG. 2, constructed in the manner of a sandwich. This sandwich consists of two outer laminate surfaces with a foam core between them 7 is stored. Of course, the box walls 3 and 4 can also have a sandwich construction being constructed.

The thrust elements are a single component, the quasi-joints 6, which each lie in two opposite edges of the box walls 3 and 4, are produced by a material tapering of the laminate material, as shown in FIG 2 is shown. These quasi-joints enable the push webs to be pivoted 5 around the edges of the box walls 3 and 4 in a limited angular range, such as this is indicated in Figure 2 by the double arrow.

The opposing box walls 4 of the two pusher elements 21 and 22 are connected to one another, in this case with the help of a torsionally rigid Base plate 8 also made of a fiber-reinforced material in laminate form. These The base plate is on both sides with the box walls A of the two sliding elements glued. With the two outer box walls 3 of the coupling element e.g. Two shafts 101 and 102 are connected via a flange 9. The axis directions 111 and 112 of the two shafts stand on the box walls 3 of the two pushing elements 21 and 22 are vertical, but are by an amount, namely the axial offset a, offset parallel to each other. For the case shown in Figure 1, in which in the The position of the coupling element shown, the push webs 5, the first push element "above" and "below" stand while the thrust bars of the second Push element 22 are "right" or "left", this means for the shown to the right axis offset a, that the thrust webs of the second thrust element 22 an angle w to the outer surface between the edges of the two box walls 3 and 4 of the first thrust element 21 occupy.

When the two shafts 101 and 10 rotate about their respective Axes 111 and 112 are offset in two mutually perpendicular Longitudinal movements implemented.

During the rotary movement, the two box-shaped coupling elements become distorted in alternating directions, this distortion being parallelogram-like around the quasi-joints 6 takes place.

The quasi-joints of both thrust elements are thereby per revolution bent up and down once each. The base or intermediate plate 8 then moves on a circle, the diameter of which corresponds to the offset a.

Instead of producing two separate thrust elements 21 and 22, which with a base or intermediate plate 8 are connected, it is possible to use the thrust elements to be formed starting from this base plate 8, so that the entire coupling element is manufactured in one piece. The intermediate plate should be as large and torsionally stiff as possible and at the same time be light in weight. A sandwich construction is suitable for this, as has been shown for the push webs 5 in FIG.

Those around the quasi-joints are then directly on this intermediate plate 6 pivotable push bars 5 connected. The thickness of the quasi-joints must be in the Near the connections in the area of the intermediate plate must be designed so that the desired Circumferential force can be transmitted as thrust and that this area remains flexible. This can easily be achieved with the fiber material used, since he has high shear strength, but at the same time a small modulus of elasticity with sufficient flexural strength. A glass fiber laminate, for example, can be used as the material with a fiber orientation of + 450 can be used.

The outer box walls 3, on which the axially offset shafts 101 and 012 are connected do not require any special torsional rigidity, they have to dimensioned to be sufficiently rigid against local instability.

In Figures 3 and 4, a coupling element 1 'is shown, with the two axles 101 'and 102' running at an angle to one another in a torsionally rigid manner can be connected. The axes 111 'and 112' here include the one shown in FIG 4 shown angle γ.

The coupling element 1 'in turn consists of two box-shaped push elements 211 and 22 ', which are offset from one another by 900 and with their respective waves facing away box walls are connected to each other. The connection is made in this Case directly, i.e. without the interposition of an intermediate plate with the box walls Have push webs 5 'of the two push elements connected via quasi-joints 6' in this case a further quasi-joint 12, which like the quasi-joints 6 'is produced by a material taper.

The additional quasi-joint 12 lies approximately in the middle of the push webs 5 'and runs parallel to the other quasi-joints 6'. Construction of the box elements and the push bars in this coupling element are similar in principle to that Embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As can be seen from Figure 4, in the bent position shown there of the shaft 102 '"down" the lower push web 5' of the second push element 22 ' strongly angled in the area of the additional quasi-joint 12, while the quasi-joint 12 is only slightly angled in the "upper" push bar.

The box walls of this push element close an angle which corresponds to the angle γ between the two axial directions. At a Rotational movement, the thrust elements 211 and 22 'are alternately deformed so that open the additional quasi-joints once during one revolution of the shafts. and be bent.

With such a coupling element, rotary movements between angular shafts are transmitted whose axes do not intersect.

In FIGS. 5a and 5b, a further coupling element 1 ″ is particularly shown compact design shown. The shape of this coupling element comes about that two thrust elements similar to that shown in Figure 1 nested in one another are, so that the outer box wall 31 "of the first thrust element opposite the inner box wall 42 "of the second thrust element and the inner box wall 41" of the first push element of the outer box wall 32 ″ of the second push element opposite. The rectangular box walls of the two pushing elements are again by 900 against each other offset in cross shape.

The box walls opposite one another inside the coupling arrangement 41 ″ and 42 ″ are characterized by inclined walls which are rigid in themselves on all of their opposite edges 13 connected to each other. These sloping walls then form together with those mentioned Box walls 41 "and 42" have an internal torsionally rigid box 14. One wall 4111 of the torsionally rigid box 14 is, as explained above, with two opposite Push bars 5 "connected to the front box wall 31" of the coupling element, along the connecting edges again by tapering the material used Quasi-joints 6 ″ are formed. In a similar way, those around 900 are opposite these edges offset edges of the box wall 42 "and the rear box wall 32" of the coupling element connected to quasi-joints via push webs 5 ". webs 5 "are built up in a sandwich fashion, for example, as shown in Figure 6. The end of the laminate this push bar is then glued to the outside of the box walls, which e.g. are designed as pure laminate panels. The walls of the torsionally rigid box 14 are also advantageous sandwich constructions, since the torsional forces that occur are guided essentially over the push webs and the walls of the box 14.

The coupling element shown in Figures 5a and 5b was for the torsionally rigid connection of shafts with a diameter of just over 20 centimeters investigated whose axis offset was about 30 millimeters. That in the From view according to Figure 5a approximately octagonal coupling element has a diameter of 50 centimeters. The depth of the coupling element was just over 20 centimeters. The coupling element was made of fiberglass laminate, the thickness being the Quasi-elements was between 1 and 2 millimeters. With such a coupling element torques of up to 12,000 Nm could easily be transmitted, so that at such torques long-term operation is practically maintenance-free.

Claims (6)

Elastic coupling element for a backlash-free, torsionally rigid connection two mutually offset rotating shafts P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e Elastic coupling element for backlash-free, torsionally rigid connection of two against each other offset rotating shafts with two preferably offset by 900 against each other box-shaped elastic sliding elements made of two opposing box walls, one each with a shaft end and the other with the other Box wall of the adjacent thrust element is connected and the lengthways with each other two opposite edges with inherently rigid, hingedly connected to the edges Push bars are connected, thereby g e k e n n n z e i c h n e t that the push elements (21.22) are integrally formed, and that the articulated connections (6) between the box walls (3, 4) and push webs (5) each by a taper of the thrust element material are generated in the connection area (quasi-joints 6). 2. Coupling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the Push elements (2) of the coupling element (1) made of fiber-reinforced materials in Laminate form are constructed. 3. Coupling element according to claim 2, characterized in that box walls (3) and / or push webs (5) of the push elements (2) have a sandwich construction are two laminate surfaces comprising a foam core (7). 4. thrust element in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two push elements (21 ", 22") are nested in one another are, so that the shaft (101 ") facing away from the box wall (31") of each one Push element (21 ") between the box walls (32", 42 ") of the other push element (22 ") and that the two box walls (41", 42 ") facing away from the shafts both pusher element are rigidly connected to each other. 5. Coupling element according to claim 4, characterized in that the two box walls 42 ″) of the coupling element facing away from the shafts through between opposite edges of the walls arranged inclined walls (13) to a torsionally rigid Box (14) are interconnected. 6. Coupling element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that for the torsionally rigid connection of two mutually angled Waves (10 ', 102') the push webs (5 ') each have a further, to have the two quasi-joints (6 ') parallel quasi-joint (12).