WO2016072855A1

WO2016072855A1 - A device for transferring a rotating movement

Info

Publication number: WO2016072855A1
Application number: PCT/NL2015/050777
Authority: WO
Inventors: Janhein PHILIPPONA
Original assignee: Philippona Janhein
Priority date: 2014-11-07
Filing date: 2015-11-09
Publication date: 2016-05-12
Also published as: NL2013752B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transferring a rotating movement from an input shaft (2) to an output shaft (3) to be coupled to said input shaft, wherein the input shaft has a first rotation axis and the output shaft has a second rotation axis, and wherein said device comprises a driving part (6), that is connected to the input shaft and a driven part (10) that is connected to the output shaft, wherein said driving part and said driven part are mutually coupled through first and second cooperating coupling means, respectively. The device is characterized in that, - said driving part has a driving body (6) that is connected rigidly to the input shaft (2) and that extends radially with respect to the input shaft and a coupling body (11,12,18,19) that is coupled to said driving body (6) and that is provided with a first coupling means; and wherein said coupling body (11,12,18,19) is coupled rotatably around a rotation axis (13,21) to said driving body (6); and - in that in respect of at least one of said driving part and said driven part [a] said first coupling means is located at a radial distance from the first rotation axis, and [b] said second coupling means is located at a distance from said second rotation axis. The coupling position, is adjustable from a position of one of said rotation axes (III, IV) )to a position away from said rotation axes (III, IV).

Description

A DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING A ROTATING MOVEMENT The present invention relates to a device for transferring a rotational movement from an input shaft to an output shaft to be coupled therewith as described in the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is known in the art. A coupling of a motor vehicle is a known example of such device.

The coupling in such known device is provided along a fixed surface area, that is to say on a predetermined radial circular surface area around the input and output shafts. Adjusting the lo^¬ cation of engagement where the input shaft and output shaft are coupled is not possible.

In the art there is a need for a coupling that joints two rotating axes and that does not have a predetermined surface area and location of engagement around the rotation axes where the coupling takes place.

The invention also aims at providing an improved device of the kind mentioned in the preamble.

The invention especially aims at providing a device of the kind m.entioned in the preamble that enables one to freely deter^¬ mine the location of engagement of the coupling with respect to the rotation axes.

The invention also aims at providing a device that allows one to vary the location of engagement during use of the device.

So as to obtain at least one of the above mentioned goals, according to a first embodiment the present invention provides a device comprising the features of claim 1. This device has the ad- vantage that the location of engagement may take place at various and variable locations and is not limited to a predetermined, fixed location.

It is especially preferred for the driving part to have a driving body that is rigidly connected to the input shaft and that extends radially with respect to the input shaft as well as a cou^¬ pling body that is rotatably coupled thereto.

It has shown that the device according to the invention al- lows one to vary the location of coupling, optionally even during use of the device. By positioning the location of connection of the first coupling means to the driving body at a position closer to the rotation axis or further away from the rotation axis, as the case may be, the location of coupling may be varied. By varying the location of coupling during use, it is made possible to detachably connect two axes that are not mutually aligned so as to transfer a rotational movement from the one axis to the other ax^¬ is. Such is made possible especially by varying the distance of the location of coupling of the first coupling means to the driving body with respect to the first rotation axis during rotation and depending on the angular position of the first rotation axis. Such synergetic effect is a big surprise.

A simple variation of the position of coupling, also men- tioned location of coupling, is made possible when said driving body and said coupling body are slidably displaceable relative to each other.

A suitable setting of the position of coupling, allowing one to set virtually every desired position of coupling, is obtained when a coupling position of said driving body and said coupling body is adjustable from a position of one of said rotation axes to a position away from said rotation axes.

More in particular, a variation of the position of coupling is simply attainable when the device for example comprises an electro motor for mutually displacing the driving body and the coupling body relative to each other. The use is not limited to an electro motor. Other ways of varying the position of coupling may be applied within the scope of the present invention.

When the position of coupling during use is variable, even a transfer of a rotational movement of an input shaft to an output shaft may be obtained, that is to say from a first rotation axis to a second rotation axis, when the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are not aligned. This provides the advantage that both axes do not have to be aligned perfectly.

A simple but effective coupling .ay be obtained when the first and second coupling means are comprised of pens, and wherein said coupling body and said receiving body on their mutually fac- ing sides comprise pens that extend over at least a portion of the length of the bodies, wherein the distance between the pens is maximally 1.5 times the diameter of the pens and wherein said device is embodied for causing mutual engagement of the pins of both of the bodies. For example, both bodies may each comprise at least two of three pens. By positioning the coupling means at a mutual angle of between about 10° and about 80° the pens of the first and second coupling means will engage each other, for example rr.eaning that they are positioned against each other, ensuring that a rota- tional movement of the first rotation axis is transferred to the second rotation axis. Decoupling may be obtained by moving the coupling body and the receiving body away from each other or the pens of at least one of the bodies may be retracted, such that de^¬ coupling takes place. Then, the axes may be rotated with respect to each other, the coupling body may be shifted with respect to the driving body or the coupling body may be rotated with respect to the driving body, after which a coupling may be obtained by mutually engaging the pens at another position or by mutually coupling other pens of the coupling body and the receiving body.

It is preferred that coupling means are provided on one of said coupling body and said receiving body, respectively, are em^¬ bodied for displacement in a direction away from the other receiving body or coupling body, respectively, for providing decoupling of the input shaft and the output shaft .

An alternative embodiment is obtained with a device wherein the coupling body and the receiving body at their mutually facing sides comprise a detachable coupling means for transferring the rotating movement of the input shaft to the output shaft that is coupled to said input shaft. For example, the coupling means may be a clamp that is provided on a coupling body and a receiving body, like a magnetic clamp. For example, the magnetic clamp may be provided on the first coupling means in a slidable manner, along its length. The receiving body may comprise a ferro or ferric metal to which the magnetic clamp may be coupled for providing a mutual coupling. According to an alternative embodiment, each of the coupling body and the receiving body may comprise a magnet which are mutually connectable and which may be slidably displace- able along the length of said bodies.

An advantageous embodiment is obtained when the device comprises an electro motor for displacing the driving body and the coupling body relative to each other during a rotating movement of said both coupled axes. Then, a fast and accurate transfer of a rotational movement from a first rotation axis to a second rota^¬ tion axis may be obtained, especially even when both axes are not perfectly aligned. That provides the advantage that a rotational movement of a first axis can be transferred to a second axis that is not exactly aligned with said first axis. A cardan joint, that occupies a lot of axial space, then may be omitted.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention may be embodied such that two coupling bodies are connected to said driv^¬ ing body, one coupling body at a first side of the first rotation axis and another coupling body at another side of the first rotation axis. Preferably, both of said coupling bodies are located on the same distance from the first rotation axis so as to easily a correct balance. As a matter of fact, the receiving body will be embodied for coupling with both of said coupling bodies. Such yields a more stable drive.

It is especially preferred that both of said coupling bodies are displaceably provided on the driving body, such that both of said coupling bodies are located at all times at the same distance from at least one of the first rotation axis and the second rota- tion axis. For example, the drive may be an electro motor, wherein each coupling body is driven by its own motor wherein a single motor, through belt or chain drives or the like, drives both of said coupling bodies .

A very efficient transfer with a simple controllability of the distance of the first rotation axis to the position where the coupling body is connected to the driving body, or of the distance of the second rotation axis to the position where the coupling body is coupled to the receiving body, is obtained with a device according to the invention wherein at the driving body at a first side of the first rotation axis a first set of two coupling bodies is coupled that are respectively located at both sides of the driving body and at a second side of the first rotation axis a second set of two coupling bodies is coupled that are respectively located at both sides of the driving body; such that the coupling bodies of said bot sets are coupled rotatably around a rotation axis to said driving body;

- wherein a first coupling body of the first set with an end thereof is connected slidably to a first coupling body of the sec^¬ ond set as well as with the receiving body to a first side of the second rotation axis, and

- wherein a second coupling body of the first set with an end thereof is connected slidably to a second coupling body of the second set as well as with the receiving body at a second side of the second rotation axis. The slidability provides a quick con^¬ trollability of the said distance. The combined coupling of the two sets of coupling bodies provides a stable device that ensures a vibration free transfer, even at higher rotational speed and independent the distance of the rotation axis to the coupling of the driving body with the coupling body.

The invention further relates to a device according to the invention comprising a flywheel that is located between the coupling body and the receiving body. Such facilitates an acceleration of a rotational movement of the device according to the invention, as is generally known to a person skilled in the art .

A device wherein the flywheel is rigidly connected to at least one of the coupling body and the receiving body is preferred, since such embodiment provides a stable construction that can be easily implemented into the device as mentioned above.

It is especially preferred for the flywheel that same is controllable. Such may be obtained by filling or emptying the flywheel with a mass on demand. As a consequence, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the flywheel comprises a cavity with a feed conduit for feeding a liquid to the cavity and a drain for removing said liquid from said cavity.

Finally, in the device according to the invention the cavity of said flywheel has a peripheral wall with openings for removing the liquid from the cavity, wherein the openings are aligned with a hollow side of blades that are located at an outside of the cav- ity, such that the liquid leaving the cavity contacts the blades so as to rotationally driving the flywheel.

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows in:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 3 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention with a controllable flywheel construction,

Fig. 4 a sectional view along the rotation axis of the embod^¬ iment of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 a sectional view of the alternative embodiment accord- ing to Fig. 3 perpendicular to the rotation axis.

The same and similar parts and features have been denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures. However, for ease of understanding the figures, not all parts that are required for a practical embodiment have been shown in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 is embodied for transferring a rotational movement from an input shaft 2 to an output shaft 3. The input shaft 2 has a first rotation axis 4 around which the input shaft 2 and any parts connected thereto rotate whereas the output shaft 3 has a second rotation axis 5 around which the output shaft 3 and any parts connected thereto rotate.

To the input shaft 2 a driving body 6 that radially extends therefrom is connected. The driving body 6 rotates together with the input shaft 2. In the embodiment shown the driving body 6 is rigidly connected to the input shaft 2. The driving body 6 on its tur carries a coupling body 7 with first coupling means 8 that are embodied for releasable coupling with second coupling means 9 that are connected to a receiving body 10 that is connected with the output shaft 3. The driving body 6, the coupling body 7 and the receiving body 10 are drawn as rod-shaped elements in Fig. 1 but may have any shape that is effective within the present invention.

By mutually coupling the coupling means 8 and the coupling means 9, which can be obtained in many different ways, an effective coupling between input shaft 2 and output shaft 3 is obtained, such that a rotational movement of the input shaft 2 to the output shaft 3 is transferred.

Fig. 1 shows a continuous line in a first position "I" wherein the coupling means 8, 9 mutually engage at a position relative close to rotation axis 4. In dashed line a position "II" is shown wherein the coupling means 8, 9 mutually engage at a position rel^¬ atively further away from rotation axis 4.

The coupling body 7 is displaceably connected to the driving body 6, as a consequence of which the distance from the connection of the coupling body 7 at the driving body 6 to the rotation axis

4 may be varied. The variation may be obtained by means of an electro motor that may displace the coupling body 7 with respect to the driving body 6.

In Fig. 1 the first rotation axis 4 and the second rotation axis 5 are shown in aligned situation. Such alignment is not required for every embodiment of the invention. The rotation axes 4,

5 may be out of line such that the electro motor may provide for a proper alignment during rotation of the coupling body 7 with the receiving body 10, more in particular the alignment of the first coupling means 8 at the coupling body 7 with respect to the coop^¬ erating second coupling means 9 at the receiving body 10. Upon rotation of the input shaft 2 the coupling body 7 will be moved to and fro along the driving body 6 so as to keep the coupling means 8 in cooperating coupling with the second coupling means 9 at the receiving body 10.

Hereinbefore, reference was made to a single coupling means 8. However, in such cases instead of a single coupling means 9 multiple coupling means 8 and multiple coupling means 9 may be provided as well, depending on the embodiment of the respective coupling means.

Fig. 2 provides a schematic view of an alternative embodi .ent of a device 1 according to the invention. Similar or analogous parts are referred to in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the input shaft 2 is rigidly connected to a driving body 6. The output shaft 3 is rigidly connected to a receiving body 10. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the coupling body 7 of Fig. 1 is replaced by two sets of coupling bodies 11, 12; 18, 19.

On the ends 14, 15 of driving body 6, remote from the input shaft 2, two sets of coupling bodies 11, 12, respectively 18, 19 are coupled. The coupling bodies 11, 12 at end 14 form a first set of coupling bodies and are rotatably connected to driving body 6 around an axis 13. As a consequence, the coupling bodies 11, 12 may be positioned at different angles with respect to driving body 6. Coupling bodies 18, 19 at end 15 form a second set of coupling bodies and are rotatably connected to driving body 6 around an ax^¬ is 21. Therefore, coupling bodies 18, 19 may be positioned at dif^¬ ferent angles with respect to driving body 6.

At the output shaft 3 a receiving body 10 is rigidly connect- ed . The receiving body 10 is positioned substantially perpendicular to driving body 6. At the ends 16, 17 of receiving body 10 remote from the output shaft 3 the coupling bodies 12, 18 and 11, 19, respectively, are coupled rotatably 22, 20. Thus, the coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 can be positioned at different angles with respect to the receiving body 10.

Furthermore, the coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 are coupled displaceably III, IV to the receiving body 10. As a consequence, the position where the coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 are coupled to the receiving body 10 can be removed from a position relatively far away from the rotation axis 5 to a position closer to the rotation axis 5. Such displaceability is denoted by reference numer^¬ als III, IV.

The coupling bodies 11, 19, and 12, 18, respectively, may at a position away from the driving body 6 be positioned on positions 20, 22, displaceable with respect to each other, wherein a dis placeability with respect to the receiving body 10 can be provided as well, for providing a larger number of positions of coupling. Such displaceability of coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 to the positions 13, 21 provides some further freedom in positioning the coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 at the driving body 6.

At for example the axes 13, 21 The sets of coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 may be displaced along the receiving body 10. In another example the rotation positions 13, 21 may be displaced along the length of the coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the coupling of coupling bodies 11, 12, 18, 19 to the receiving body 10 is located 5 at several positions, in this embodiment at two positions. The driving body 6 and the receiving body 10 are located perpendicular with respect to each other. The coupling is symmetrical with re^¬ spect to the input shaft 2 through two sets of coupling bodies 11, 12, and 18, 19, respectively. When the input shaft 2 and the out-

10 put shaft 3 are positioned aligned, as schematically shown in this Figure, the said positions are symmetrical with respect to the output shaft 3. Such symmetrical embodiment is not required within the invention, for example, by coupling the two sets of coupling bodies displaceable to the receiving body 10. The position of cou-

15 pling of the coupling bodies to the receiving body 10 will be

changed in a full rotation of the output shaft 3 and after a full rotation of the output shaft 3 be back in its original position.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show an alternative embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention. An input shaft 2 and an output

20 shaft 3 are mutually connected by means of driving body 6 that is coupled with the first coupling body 7 that provides the connec^¬ tion with the receiving body 10 that is connected to the output shaft 3.

Between the coupling body 7 and the receiving body 10 a body 25 23 is positioned that in the embodiment shown may serve as a con^¬ trollable flywheel 23. The flywheel is substantially embodied as a cavity 24 that can be filled with a liquid upon request. Hence, the coupling 1 according to the invention may store energy during use. For example, when braking the device 1 a liquid may be fed 30 into the cavity 24 such that energy is required to have the in creased mass rotate leading to a decrease in rotational speed of device 1. Preferably, the device will not come to a halt completely when feeding the liquid. At a subsequent acceleration the energy that was stored may be drained. This alternative embodiment of 35 device 1 according to the invention may save large amounts of en^¬ ergy .

Addition of liquid mat take place through the input shaft 2. To that end, the input shaft 2 is embodied as a hollow part with a central feeding channel 25. Also, the output shaft 3 is provided with a feeding channel 26. The feeding channel 25 is coupled to feeding channel 25 through a venturi 27, with the consequence that a forced feed of liquid in feeding channel 25 through feeding channel 26 is obtained. Such had the advantage that the speed of addition of liquid into cavity 24 is faster providing a faster feed of liquid into cavity 24 and a faster deceleration. Such increases the applicability of het flywheel 23.

Removal of liquid may be obtained through discharge channels

28, said channels 28 being closeable with valves 29. Unintentional discharge of liquid from cavity 24 is thus prevented. The fee channels 25, 26 are closeable by means of valves 30, 31, as well.

The coupling of feed channel 26 with venturi 27 may be ob- tained through a flexible hose or tube 32. A reason for this is that any torsional movements between axes 2, 3 can be accomodated. For the same reason a flexible connection may be provided between channel 25 and venturi 27.

Finally, Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the flywheel 23. Liquid will be fed through feed channel 25 wherein additional liquid may be added through venturi 27 and through the optional tube 32. During use, the liquid will be positioned in the cavity 24 against the peripheral wall 33 due to the rotational speed of the flywheel. In the wall 33 openings 34 are provided that can be closed off and opened upon request in a controlled manner. When opening the openings 34 the liquid that flows off will contact the blades 35 such that a rotational rr.ovement is induced. The housing of flywheel 23 will thus obtain an additional rotational movement such that a rotational energy is induced when discharging liquid from flywheel 23.

By opening the valves 29 more or less the discharge of the liquid can be controlled, thus controlling the weight change of the flywheel.

So as to improve discharge of liquid from the flywheel 23 barriers 36 are provide, inducing a pressure reduction at the area of the opening 34, such that the liquid flows more easily from the cavity 24 and, additionally, is directed towards the blades 35. As a consequence, the force exerted on the blades that rotates the flywheel is increased. Such improves the efficiency of the flywheel .

This embodiment has the advantage that when generating rota- tion energy by means of driving the flywheel through a concrete discharge of liquid that exerts a force on said blades, wherein said flywheel is coupled at both axes 2, 3, the energy thus gener^¬ ated may be withdrawn at any of both axes 2, 3. The rate of energy that is generated may be controlled by opening the valves 29 more or less.

The liquid can be returned from channels 28 back to channels 25, 26, preferably with the intervention of a buffer tank (not shown) .

The invention is not limited to the embodiments as mentioned above and as shown in the drawings. The invention is limited by the claims only.

The invention also relates to all combinations of features described here independently of each other.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A device for transferring a rotating movement from an input shaft to an output shaft to be coupled to said input shaft, where^¬ in the input shaft has a first rotation axis and the output shaft has a second rotation axis, and wherein said device comprises a driving part that is connected to the input shaft and a driven part that is connected to the output shaft, wherein said driving part and said driven part are mutually coupled through first and second cooperating coupling means, respectively,

characterized in tha :

- said driving part has a driving body that is connected rigidly to the input shaft and that extends radially with respect to the input shaft and a coupling body that is coupled to said driving body and that is provided with a first coupling means; and wherein said coupling body is coupled rotatably around a rotation axis to said driving body; and

- in that in respect of at least one of said driving part and said driven part [a] said first coupling means is located at a radial distance from the first rotation axis, and [b] said second cou^¬ pling means is located at a distance from said second rotation ax- is .

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said driving body and said coupling body are slidably displaceable relative to each oth^¬ er .

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a coupling position of said driving body and said coupling body is adjustable from a position of one of said rotation axes to a position away from said rotation axes .

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, comprising an electro motor for mutually displacing the driving body and the coupling body relative to each other.

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are not aligned.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second coupling means are comprised of pens, and wherein said coupling body and said receiving body on their mutually fac^¬ ing sides comprise pens that extend over at least a portion of the length of the bodies, wherein the distance between the pens is maximally 1.5 tim.es the diameter of the pens and wherein said de- vice is embodied for causing mutual engagement of the pins of both of the bodies .

7. A device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the coupling body and the receiving body at their mutually facing sides com- prise a detachable coupling means for transferring the rotating movement of the input shaft to the output shaft that is coupled to said input shaft.

8. A device according to any of claims 5, comprising an electro motor for displacing the driving body and the coupling body relative to each other during a rotating movement of said both coupled axes .

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein cou- pling means that are provided on one of said coupling body and said receiving body, respectively, are embodied for displacement in a direction away from the other receiving body or coupling body, respectively, for providing decoupling of the input shaft and the output shaft.

10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two coupling bodies are connected to said driving body, one coupling body at a first side of the first rotation axis and another coupling body at another side of the first rotation axis.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein both of said coupling bodies are located on the same distance from the first rotation axi s .

12. A device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein both of said coupling bodies are displaceably provided on the driving body,

5 such that both of said coupling bodies are located at all times at the same distance from at least one of the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis.

13. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at 10 the driving body at a first side of the first rotation axis a

first set of two coupling bodies is coupled that are respectively located at both sides of the driving body and at a second side of the first rotation axis a second set of two coupling bodies is coupled that are respectively located at both sides of the driving 15 body; such that the coupling bodies of said bot sets are coupled rotatably around a rotation axis to said driving body;

- wherein a first coupling body of the first set with an end thereof is connected slidably to a first coupling body of the second set as well as with the receiving body to a first side of the

20 second rotation axis, and

- wherein a second coupling body of the first set with an end thereof is connected slidably to a second coupling body of the second set as well as with the receiving body at a second side of the second rotation axis.

25

14. Device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a flywheel (23) that is located between the coupling body (7) and the receiving body (10) .

30 15. Device (1) according to claim 14, wherein the flywheel (23) is rigidly connected to at least one of the coupling body (7) and the receiving body (10) .

16. Device (1) according to claim 14, wherein the flywheel (23) 35 comprises a cavity (24) with a feed conduit (25; 26) for feeding a liquid to the cavity (24) and a drain (28) for removing said liq^¬ uid from, said cavity (24) .

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein the cavity of said flywheel (23) has a peripheral wall (33) with openings (34) for removing the liquid from the cavity (24), wherein the openings (34) are aligned with a hollow side of blades (35) that are locat^¬ ed at an outside of the cavity (24), such that the liquid leaving the cavity (24) contacts the blades (35) so as to rotationally driving the flywheel (23).