GB2410536A

GB2410536A - Torque transmitting coupling with low angular stiffness

Info

Publication number: GB2410536A
Application number: GB0401720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Mikonya; Matthias Kabst
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2004-01-27
Filing date: 2004-01-27
Publication date: 2005-08-03
Also published as: GB0401720D0

Abstract

A torque transmitting coupling 10 comprises a driving flange 20 and a driven flange 30 connected by a hollow cylindrical member such as a bellows 40, which has high torsional stiffness for transmitting torque, but a low angular stiffness to allow angular displacement. The two flanges are also connected by a swinging joint such as a ball and socket joint 50 centrally mounted within the hollow member. This arrangement allows the coupling to support a large load whilst accommodating angular misalignment. The coupling may be used in a lift and turn device for a train (figure 2).

Description

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COUPLING DEVICE FOR TRANSMISSION OF TORQUE

The invention relates to a coupling device for transmission of torque, for example from a motor to a load. Further, the invention relates to a lift and turning device comprising a coupling device according to the invention and to a production facility for production and maintenance of vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, using such a lift and turning device.

A large number of different coupling devices exist for the transmission of torque between a motor shaft and a load shaft. A known coupling device from Rimtee Corporation comprises two flanges connected by a spring having a high torsion stiffness to transmit the torque from a driving flange to a driven flange. The spring allows flexible compensation for misalignment of the motor and load shaft in axial, radial and angular directions. The problem of this flexible coupling device is that under high loads in either direction permanent deformation or failure occurs. The coupling devices can hence not be used in circumstances where the misalignment forces in either direction are high.

An example of a circumstance where the forces acting on the coupling are very high, is a lift and turning device used in a production facility for production and maintenance of trains. Here the coupling must be able to withstand the very high vertical forces from the weight of a train as well as transmitting a very high torque to rotate the train for giving access to maintenance operations to the train. In such demanding circumstances the lift and turning devices such as, for example, those available from Kumbrueh, have a rigid coupling to transmit torque between the turning motor and the load. The couplings have a driving flange connected to a motor for rotating the coupling and a driven flange to which a load, for example a train, can be connected. The disadvantage of the rigid couplings is that the very high vertical gravitational forces cause a deflection of the eouphngs and of the lift-and-turmng device, causing great wear and tear in the couplings, in the lift-and- turning device and the connections of the lift-and-turning device to the floor. There is therefore a desire for an improved coupling device able to withstand the very high lateral : e 2 e e e e e forces and high torques in demanding applications as described above that does not have the forementioned disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided an improved coupling device for transmission of torque comprising a drivmg flange and a driven flange first connected by a hollow cylindrical means having high torsion stiffness but low angular stiffness and second connected by a swinging joint centrally within the cylindrical means, which swinging joint allows displacement in angular direction, wherein the hollow cylindrical means has a diameter larger than the axial distance between the driving flange and the driven flange.

it was found that the coupling device according to the invention has much reduced wear and tear when used in very high load circumstances and by consequence has a much longer effective lifetime in highly demanding applications, such as in a lift-and-turning device. The coupling accommodates deflection caused by heavy loads by allowing angular misalignment of the driving and driven flange without disruption and damages in either the coupling or a lift and turning device holding the coupling.

In GB 1315787 a coupling is described in which torque is transmitted using a bellow, which has specified corrugations embedded in an elastomeric material. It is described that a ball bearing may be provided to fix the point of intersection of the axial axis of the driving flange and the driven flange. This prior art coupling is not suitable for high load applications as in lift and turning devices described above. Such high loads would result in failure of the bellow and the ball bearing. Further, the angle of angular misalignment is limited due to the presence of the elastomeric material in the corrugations of the bellow, whereas the coupling according to the invention allows for a larger angular misalignment as required in the envisaged high load applications. Typically, the coupling according to the present invention allows for an angular misalignment of more than 3 degrees or even more than 5 degrees.

. . . : A- :: :: :: . . 3 To obtain a high load bearing capacity in the coupling device the ratio of the bellow diameter over the axial distance is preferably at least 1.3, preferably at least 1.5, most preferably at least 2. Further, it is also preferred that the swinging joint has its pivoting point, that is the intersection of the axis of the driven flange and the driving flange.

Positioned at less than half the axial distance from the driving Range, more preferably the pivoting point is at less than 0.4 times and most preferably less than 0.3 times the axial distance.

The cylindrical means has high torsioned stiffness but low angular stiffness. With "high and low" here is meant high and low relative to each other, implying that the cylindrical means can transmit high torque without distortion but can at the same time allow angular deformation. The level of the torsional stiffness is chosen in view of the requirements of the actual application. The hollow cylindrical means is preferably rigidly mounted, for example with screws, to the driving Range and the driven flange with its central axis aligned with the central axis of the flanges and the central axis of the swinging joint.

The cylindrical means in the coupling device can be a spring but preferably is a corrugated bellow, preferably a metal bellow.

The swinging joint allows displacement of the driven flange relative to the driving flange in angular direction in combination with an angular deformation of the hollow cylindrical means. The swinging joint limits the axial displacement. In principle there may be an axial displacement but in view of a limited axial deformation of the cylindrical means it is preferably small, in particular smaller than the maximum allowable axial deformation of the cylindrical means. In any case axial extension is blocked by a rigid stop allowing the coupling to be load bearing. In a preferred embodiment the swinging joint connection is rigid in the axial direction and fixes the center of the angular displacement, preferably near the middle between the flanges.

Different constructions for the swinging joint can be used to allow angular movement whilst limiting axial movement. Preferably, the swinging joint allows angular movement a: cte ., c:. : ee: 4 . ': in all radial directions in order to have angular movement irrespective of the rotational position of the coupling. Preferably the swinging joint connection comprises a convex shaped part engaging a concave-shaped part, which parts are rigidly mounted on opposite flanges to connect them. In a preferred embodiment the swinging joint in the coupling device according to the invention comprises a bearing bolt, at one end attached to the driving or driven flange and at the opposite end having a convex bearing part engaging in a concave bearing part attached to the opposite flange. The concave bearing part is preferably positioned in a cylindrical bearing sleeve that is rigidly attached to the driven flange. For ease of construction at least one of the concave bearing part and the concave to bearing part are separate construction parts mounted on the bearing bolt and bearing sleeve. For example, in assembling the coupling device the convex bearing part can be a separate part and is first fitted separately into the concave bearing part connected to the driven or driving flange and thereafter connected to the bearing bolt on the opposite flange.

In a preferred embodiment of the coupling device according to the present invention the bearing bolt has a cylindrical recess seat onto which a ring shaped convex curved bearing part is mounted and wherein the bearing sleeve is a hollow cylinder provided with an inner cylindrical recess seat into which a ring shaped concave curved bearing part is mounted in contact with the convex curved bearing part of bearing bolt.

The present invention further provides a lift and turning device comprising a vertical jack provided with a lifting means for vertical moving of a turning means comprising a coupling device according to the invention. Lift and turning devices are used to hoist heavy goods, such as cars or trains to an elevated position and turn them for example for construction or maintenance work. Preferably the turning means also comprise a locking means for locking the coupling in a fixed position. The lifting means may comprise a spindle and a spindle drive for bringing the coupling device to an elevated position. The turning means comprises a turning drive having a turntable connected to driving flange of the coupling device. The driven flange may be provided with a flange board for c: .e: es' le' c:. :: ca: e : A: connection to a load. The lift and turning device according to the invention is capable of hoisting heavier goods and/or has a longer effective service live due to the reduced wear and tear in the coupling and other components of the lift and turning device.

The lift and turning device according to the invention is particularly useful in a production facility for production and maintenance of vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, wherein two or more oppositely positioned lift and turning devices lift and turn the vehicle.

The coupling device according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the coupling device according to the invention; and Figure 2is a side view of a production facility for construction and maintenance work in a low rest position and in an elevated position, having two opposite lift and turning devices comprising the coupling device according to the invention.

The coupling 10 comprises a metal bellow 40 connected with the aid of screws 170 to a driving flange 20 on one side and a driven flange 30 on the other side. The metal bellow is corrugated with annular grooves to provide high torsional stiffness and some angular flexibility. Attached to the driving flange 20 is a bearing bolt 50, centred in the direction of driven flange 30. A bearing sleeve 70 whereas attached to the driven flange 30, centred in the direction of the driving flange 20. On the bearing surfaces of the bearing bolt 50 and the bearing sleeve 70 sits a swing bearing part. The concave swing bearing part 80 engages in a cylindrical recess in the bearing sleeve 70 and is attached to the sleeve by a retaining ring 180. The convex bearing part 60 engages a cylindrical recess in the bearing bolt 50 and is attached to the bearing bolt by a retaining washer 190 and a screw. The driving flange 20 of the coupling 10 is fastened with the aid of screws 170 to a rigid turntable of a lift and turning device. The driven flange 30 is fastened with the aid of screws 170 to the flange board 130 of the production facility. .

C # ,C, , C C C C C # Figure 2 depicts a production facility 160 comprising two lift and turning devices 90 in a low rest position and in an elevated position, The load, for example a train, is connected at the flange board 130 to the driven flange 30 of the coupling 10 with the aid of screws 170. The coupling 10 is connected at the driving flange 20 to the turntable 120 of a lift and-turning device 90 comprising a vertical jack 100, lifting means to vertically move the coupling and the production facility in an elevated position and turning means to turn the production facility 160. The turning means can be a motor 110 attached to the coupling.

The base plate 140 of the lift and turning device is affixed to the floor ISO with the aid of fastening devices (not shown).

The production facility 160 held on both sides by couplings 10 on the lift-and-turning devices experiences, at a length of X, deflection Y leading to an angular displacement Z of driving flange 20 against driven flange 30 of the coupling 10. In the low position, this angular displacement is compensated for both axially and vertically, whereas, in the elevated position, the production facility 160 is rotated by 360 degrees and the angular displacement Z is compensated for by the coupling. In order to compensate for potential deviations of the centre of gravity of the production facility 160 relative to the axis between the couplings 10, a particular grid design of connection holes has been provided in the turntable 120 allowing axial displacement between the centre of the turntable 120 and the centre of the coupling. #

Claims

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1. Coupling device (10) for transmission of torque comprising a driving flange (20) and a driven flange (30) first connected by a hollow cylindrical means (40) having high torsional stiffness but low angular stiffness and second connected by a swinging joint centrally within the cylindrical means (40), which swinging joint allows displacement in the angular direction, wherein the hollow cylindrical means (40) has a diameter larger than the axial distance between the driving flange and the driven flange.

2. Coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the hollow cylindrical means to the axial distance is at least 1.3, preferably at least 1.5.

3. Coupling device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the swinging joint has a pivoting point positioned at less than half the axial distance from the driving flange (20).

4. Coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the pivoting point is at less than 0.4 times (preferably less than 0.3 times) the axial distance.

5. Coupling device according to claims I to 4, wherein the cylindrical means (40) is a corrugated bellow.

6. Coupling device according to claim l to 5, wherein the swinging joint is substantially rigid in the axial direction.

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7. Coupling device according to claim 6, wherein the swinging joint comprises a convex shaped part engaging a concave shaped part, which parts are rigidly mounted on the respective flanges

8. Coupling device according to claim 7, wherein the swinging joint comprises a bearing bolt (50) on one end attached to the driving or drive flange and on the opposite end having a convex bearing part engaging a concave bearing part attached to the opposite flange (30).

9. Coupling device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the concave bearing part is positioned in a cylindrical bearing sleeve (70) that is rigidly attached to the driven flange (20).

10. Coupling device according to claim 7 to 9, wherein at least one of the concave bearing part and the concave bearing part are separate construction parts (80 and 60) mounted on the bearing bolt (50) and bearing sleeve (70).

l 1. Coupling device according to claim 10, wherein the bearing bolt (50) has a cylindrical recess seat onto which a ring shaped convex curved bearing part (60) is mounted and wherein the bearing sleeve (70) is a hollow cylinder provided with an inner recess seat into which a ring shaped concave curved bearing part (80) is mounted in contact with the convex curved bearing part (60) of bearing bolt (SO).

12. Lift and turning device (90) comprising a vertical jack (100) provided with a turning means (110) comprising a coupling device according to claims 1 to 11.

13. Lift and turning device (90) according to claim 12, further comprising a lifting means for vertical moving of the turning means (110).

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14. Lift and turning device according to claim 13, wherein the lifting means comprises a spindle and a spindle drive and the turning means comprises a turning drive having a turntable (120) connected to driving flange (20) of the coupling device which is provided on the driven flange (30) with flange board (130) for connection to a load.

15. Production facility for production and maintenance of vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, comprising two oppositely positioned lift and turning devices according to claims 12 to 14.

16. A coupling device, a hft and turning device or a production facility substantially as hereinbefore described having reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.