COUPLING WITH A BELLOWS-PROTECTED INTERLOCKING DRIVING CONNECTION

Abstract

Coupling (1) with a bellows-protected interlocking driving connection (2), at least comprising a hub (3) and a sleeve (4), wherein the driving connection (2) is arranged between the hub (3) and sleeve (4), wherein the driving connection (2) is protected by a bellows (5), wherein the bellows (5) is located in a recess (6) of the hub (3) and is fastened at one end to the sleeve end region (8) and at the other end opposite the sleeve end region (8) to the hub (3), wherein the annular recess (6) is bounded at least by an annular hub inner surface (16) directed towards the driving connection (2) and by an opposite hub outer surface (9) formed with respect to the end side (11) of the hub (3), wherein there is an annular gap (10) between the sleeve end region (8) and the hub outer surface (9) of the recess (6). The intention is to avoid dust and dirt penetrating the bellows section as wave troughs and face the hub outer surface, in the recess present with the hub in region bellows and hub outer surface.

Claims

1. Coupling (1) with a bellows-protecting form-locking drive connection (2), at least comprising a hub (3) and a sleeve (4), wherein the drive connection (2) is arranged between the hub (3) and sleeve (4), wherein the drive connection (2) is protected by a bellows (5), wherein the bellows (5) is located in a recess (6) of the hub (3) on one hand at the sleeve end region (8) and on the other hand the sleeve end region (8), resting opposite one another on the hub (3), wherein the annular recess (6) is at least limited by annular hub inner surface (16) directed towards the drive connection (2) and is formed by the hub outer surface (9) and the front surface (11) of the hub (3) wherein an annular gap (10) between the sleeve end region (8) and said hub outer surface (9) if the recess (6) is present, characterized in, that at least an elastic annular sealing element (12, 121, 122, 123, 124), wherein the region between the wave formed annular bellows (5) with bellow element (25) and the hub outer surface (9), wherein the sealing element (12) and a ring gap (10) adjacent seals at least one bellows element free chamber (21) of a bellows element (25) is, in cross-section, formed as a wave valley, characterized in that at least an elastic annular sealing element (12, 121, 122, 123, 124) is disposed in the area/region between the corrugated annular bellows (5) with bellows elements (25) and the hub outer surface (9), wherein the sealing element (12) seals at least one of the annular gap (10) adjacent wave trough in cross section bellows element free chamber (21) of a bellows element (25).

2. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized such that the coupling (1) with bellows-protecting form-fitting drive connection (2) is a gear coupling having at least one crowned toothing with bellows sealing.

3. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that, a first elastic annular sealing element (12, 121) with an adapted formed ring outer region (17) and with an adapted formed inner ring region (18) on sleeve end region (8) with the involvement of the bellows mounting (13) by means of two ends (7) of sleeve end regions (8) partially surrounding the ring outer region (17) of elongated ring lips (14, 15) which are fixed and the annular inner portion (18) has a forward and outward slanting elastic sealing lip (19) on the hub outer surface (9) elastically and sealingly rests and by their proper sealing lip bearing on the hub outer surface (9) close the annular gap (10).

4. Coupling according to claim 3, characterized, that the first elastic sealing element (12, 121) is located in at least one, especially in the first bellows element free chamber (21) as an annular outer region (17), wherein the first inwardly disposed annular lip (14), designed as an annular lip (23), that the bellows element free chamber (21) of a bellows element (25) is adapted partially or completely, and as an annular inner region (18) which the front face (11) of the hub (3) directed elastic sealing lip (19) exhibits.

5. Coupling according to claim 3, characterized, that said first elastic annular sealing element (12, 121) is made of elastic material in the form of an elastomer such as polyurethane plastic or rubber.

6. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, that a second resilient annular sealing element (12, 122) closes the annular gap (10) that the at least with its outer ring area (17) located in at least one of bellows element free chambers (21) in the hub (3) of the sleeve end region (8) bellows free chamber (20), wherein the ring inner portion (18) of the sealing element (12, 122) rests contacting in the form of an elastic sealing ring (24) or in the form of an elastic sealing lip (19) on the hub outer surface (9) of the recess (6).

7. Coupling according to claim 6, characterized, that the second elastic annular sealing element (12, 122) closes the annular gap (10), wherein the sealing member (12, 122) at least with its outer ring region (17) located in the first sleeve end region (8) closest bellows element free chamber (21) of the hub (3) of the sleeve end regions (8) lying bellows free chambers (20) engages.

8. Coupling according to claim 6, characterized, that the second elastic annular sealing element (12, 122) consists of an elastic polyethylene foam material.

9. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, that a third elastic annular sealing element (12, 123) closes the annular gap (10), wherein the sealing member (12, 123) fills to the hub (3) opposite bellows free chamber (20) of the bellows (5) in several or in all bellows element free chambers (21) and with its inner ring region (18) resting on the hub outer surface (9) in form of an elastic sealing ring (24) contactingly.

10. Coupling according to claim 9, characterized, that the third elastic annular seal element (12, 123) is made of elastic foam material.

11. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that a fourth elastic annular sealing element (12, 124) connected to itself in the annular inner region (18), forming the ring outer region (17) of annular sealing lips (23), the hub outer surface (9) opposite the bellows element free chambers (21) of the bellows elements (25) filled in at least one, several or preferably all bellows element free chambers (21), wherein the sealing member (12, 124) with its inner ring region (18) from said hub outer surface (9) is arranged at a distance and wherein the occupied bellows element free chambers (21) are sealed and thus the bellows element free chambers (21) are protected.

12. Coupling according to claim 11, characterized, that the fourth elastic annular seal element (12, 124) is made of elastic foam material.

13. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, that in the bellows element free chambers (21) the inserted elastic material of the sealing elements (12, 121, 122, 123, 124) is strongly fixed to the inner surface of the bellows element free chambers (21) or is clamped in the bellows element free chambers (21).

14. A coupling according to claim 1, characterized, that the sealing elements (12, 121, 122, 123, 124) are formed and produced in such a way that the annular outer region (17) and the ring inner region (18) are mutually separately produced region parts or the annular outer region (17) and the ring inner region (18) consist at least of at least two region positions which are combined with each other through a sealing member (12, 121, 122, 123, 124).

15. A coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular outer region (17) and the ring inner region (18) form parts of in each case of a single piece produced sealing element (12, 121, 122, 123, 124).

16. A coupling according to claim 1, characterized, that the elastic annular sealing element (12) is formed into a combination sealing element, wherein at least two of the sealing elements (121, 122, 123, 124) are combined as elements.

Description

[0027] The invention is illustrated by means of several embodiments with reference to drawings.

[0028] They depict:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of a coupling with a bellows-protecting form-matching driving connection in the form of a gear coupling with toothing according to the prior art,

[0030] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sleeve hub region of the conventional gear coupling with toothing according to the prior art shown in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling according to the invention with bellows-protecting form-matching driving connection in the form of a gear coupling with toothing, and a first elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows,

[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of the gear coupling according to the invention with toothing according to FIG. 3 and the first elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows,

[0033] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing and a second elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows,

[0034] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing according to FIG. 5 and the second elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the outer hub surface opposite the bellows,

[0035] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing and a third elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows and

[0036] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing according to FIG. 7 and the third elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows,

[0037] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing and a fourth elastic annular seal element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows, wherein the said fourth sealing element fills the bellows element free chambers completely and not directly resting on the hub outer surface, but is spaced from it at a distance, and

[0038] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of a gear coupling according to the invention with toothing according to FIG. 9 and the fourth elastic annular sealing element between the bellows and the hub outer surface opposite the bellows.

[0039] In the following, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are considered.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling according to the invention with bellows-protecting form-matching driving connection in the form of two gear coupling halves forming gear coupling 1, each with toothing 2 and the first elastic annular sealing element 121 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5 and in FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of the inventive gear coupling 1 with toothing 2 according to FIG. 3 and the first elastic annular seal element 121 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5 shown.

[0041] Only one tooth coupling half is occupied by reference numerals for clarity.

[0042] The gear coupling 1 shown therein with toothing 2 comprises at least one hub 3 and a sleeve 4, wherein between the hub 3 and the sleeve 4, the toothing 2 is arranged, wherein the toothing 2 is protected by the bellows 5, wherein the bellows 5 is in a recess 6 of the hub 3 and is on the one hand on the sleeve end region 8 and on the other hand the sleeve end region 8 fixed opposite to the hub 3 at a junction 26,

[0043] wherein the annular recess 6 is essentially limited from one to the toothing 2 facing annular hub inner face 16 and an opposed, directed on the front face 11 of the hub 3, the hub outer surface 9, whereby an annular gap 10 between the sleeve end region 8 and the hub outer surface 9 of the recess 6 is present and a bellows element free chamber 20 opens.

[0044] According to the invention a elastic annular sealing element 12, 121 is formed in the area/region between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9, whereby the sealing element 12, 121 at least seals off the annular gap 10 adjacent to the bellows element free chamber 21 designed as wave trough in cross-section enlarged in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4 show the first elastic annular sealing element 121 is formed such that it at least the annular gap 10 between sleeve end region 8 and the hub outer surface 9 of the hub 3 is sealed.

[0045] The recess 6 of the hub 3 is restricted by the toothing 2 facing away from hub inner surface 16, one of the toothing 2 facing hub outer surface 9 and one between the hub inner face 16 and the hub outer surface 9 of the transition surface 22 to a junction 26, or on the other hand mounted in the region of the bellows 5. The bellows 5 is placed in the annular cavity of the recess 6 and on the other hand arrested at the end 7 of the sleeve end region 8 sleeve end region locked by means of a bellows mounting 13. The annular bellows 5 represents a protective cap for the toothing 2 between the hub 3 and sleeve 4. In order to enable axial and radial displacements, the annular gap 10 is formed between the end 7 of the sleeve end region 8 including the bellows mounting 13 and the hub outer surface. 9

[0046] In particular, the bellows element free chambers 21 are susceptible to contamination, affecting the dynamic displacement capability between the hub 3 and sleeve 4.

[0047] FIG. 4, with respect to FIG. 3, is an enlarged view, therefore, a first elastic annular sealing element 121 with a specially formed annular outer region 17 and with a specially formed annular inner region 18 of sleeve end region 8 under the bellows mounting 13 by means of two partially surrounding ring outer region 17 elongated holding ring seal lips 14 and 15 attached to the end 7 of the sleeve end region 8. It has in the ring interior region 18 an outwardly directed elastic sealing lip 19 which rests sealingly and elastically on the hub outer surface 9 and which closes the annular gap by its sealing lip properly resting on the hub outer surface 9, closing the annular gap 10.

[0048] Between the two elongated annular lips 14 and 15, a free space is present in that at least fits the inserted end of the 7 sleeve end region 8.

[0049] According to another modified embodiment (not graphically illustrated) of the first sealing element 121 may include at least one, especially in the first bellows element free chamber 21, the first inwardly located annular lips 14, formed as an annular lip 23 and the bellows element free chamber 21 is partially or completely adapted as annular outer region 17 are placed and as an annular inner region 18 which to the front side face 11 of the hub 3, directed elastic sealing lip 19 may be formed. The first elastic annular sealing element 121 can for example consist of the elastic material polyurethane plastic.

[0050] The ring inner region 18 may also instead of the elastic sealing lip 19 as an elastic, in cross section the rectangular formed sealing ring 24 which may be connected homogeneously with the annular lip 14 as an annular outer region 17, as shown in FIG. 5 and shown in FIG. 6, such that second elastic seal is formed 122 as described in the following.

[0051] In the following, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are considered together.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the invention of a gear coupling 1 with toothing 2 and a second elastic annular seal element 122 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 disposed opposite the bellows 5 and in FIG. 6 there is shown an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of the invention gear coupling 1 with toothing 2 and the second elastic annular seal element 122 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5 is shown.

[0053] In FIG. 6, the second elastic annular sealing element 12, 122, specified in a enlarged sectional view, is displayed, which in a at least with its annular outer portion 17 which fills a bellows element free chamber 21 of the in the hub 3 of the sleeve end region 8 bellows free chamber 20 in the form of a thickened annular lip 23 engages, wherein the ring inner region 8 of the elastic sealing element 122 on the hub outer surface 9 of the recess 6 in the form of a widened sealing ring 24 relative to the ring lip 23 rests contacting.

[0054] Here, the second elastic annular sealing element 122 made of the elastic material is preferably made of polyethylene (PE) foam.

[0055] In the following, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, are considered together. In FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the invention gear coupling 1 with teeth 2 and a third elastic annular seal element 123 between the bellows 5 and hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5 and in FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub region of the invention gear coupling 1 with toothing 2 and the third elastic annular seal element 123 is shown between the bellows 5 and the opposite hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5.

[0056] In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the third elastic annular sealing element 12, 123 is shown, which the hub 3 disposed opposite the bellow free chamber 20 of this bellows 5 at least in at least one bellows element free chamber 21, in several or in all bellows element free chambers 21 in the form of annular sealing lips 23 fills and which rests sealingly on the hub outer surface 9 with its annular inner region 18.

[0057] The engaging ring sealing lips 23 can be ring connected to each other on the inner side of the region wherein the bellows element free chambers 21 are possibly connected to each other possibly foamed and engaging ring sealing lips 23 can regional side connected to each other. The sealing ring 24 coordinated to the ring inner region 18 supported on the existing and interconnected ring sealing lips 23 of the hub surface 9. The sealing ring 24 can therefore be foamed and engaging in the annular sealing lips 23 the bellows element free chambers 21 and staggered. Alternatively, the manufactured polyethylene foam ring sealing lips 23 can be inserted into the bellows element free chamber 21 and thus pretentioned.

[0058] Here, the third elastic annular seal element 123 made of the elastic material is can consist of polyethylene (PE) foam material.

[0059] In the following, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are considered together.

[0060] In FIG. 9 is displayed a cross-sectional view of an invention gear coupling 1 with toothing 2 and a fourth elastic annular sealing element 124 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5, wherein the fourth sealing element 124 fills completely the bellows element free chambers 21 and not directly on the hub outer surface 9 rest, and shown in FIG. 10, is an enlarged view of the sleeve hub portion of a gear coupling 1 according to the invention with toothing 2 of FIG. 9 and the fourth elastic annular sealing element 124 between the bellows 5 and the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows 5.

[0061] The fourth elastic annular sealing element 12, 124 is formed with annular sealing lips 23 formed the annular inner region 18 and connected to each other the annular outer region 17 which preferably in all bellows element free chambers 21, the hub outer surface 9 opposite the bellows element free chambers 21 of the bellows elements 25 is preferably filled in all bellow element free chambers 21 and where in the sealing member 124 with its annular inner region 18 from the hub outer surface 9 is, the covered bellows element free chambers 21 are sealed off and the bellows element free chambers 21 are protected. The recess 6 belonging to the bellows free chamber 20 is thus largely a free chamber without material.

[0062] The fourth sealing element 124 can be distinguished essentially from the third sealing element 123 by the absence of a sealing ring 24 engaging or a sealing lip 19 contacting the hub outer surface 9.

[0063] Here, the fourth elastic annular sealing element 123 may also be made of the elastic material Polyethylene (PE) foam material.

[0064] With the elastic annular sealing element 12 and its specified variants 121, 122, 123, 124 both the bellows 5 in particular the bellows element free chambers 21 and also to a large extent the hub outer surface 9 and the junction 26 between the hub 3 and bellows 5 at the transition point 22 are safe from dirt and dust. The elastic annular seal element 12 essentially constitutes a bellows protection element. The sealing elements 12; 121, 122, 123, 124 may be thus formed and manufactured that the ring outer region 17 and ring inner region 18 are not separated from each other, but parts of a sealing element produced in one piece 12; 121, 122, 123, 124.

[0065] On the other hand, the sealing elements 12; 121, 122, 123, 124 can also be formed and manufactured such that ring outer region 17 and ring inner region 18 are region positions produced from each other or respectively ring outer region 17 and inner ring region 18 comprise of at least two region locations, the elastic annular sealing elements 12; 121, 122, 123, 124 are preferably adhesively joined together.

[0066] The elastic annular sealing element 12 may be formed into a combination sealing element by at least two combinations of the previously said elastic sealing elements 121, 122, 123, 124 are summarized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0067] 1 coupling with a bellows-protecting form-fitting drive connection/gear coupling [0068] 2 drive connection/toothing [0069] 3 hub [0070] 4 sleeve [0071] 5 bellows [0072] 6 annular recess [0073] 7 end [0074] 8 sleeve end region [0075] 9 annular outer hub surface [0076] 10 annular gap [0077] 11 front surface of the hub [0078] 12 elastic annular seal element [0079] 121 first elastic annular sealing element [0080] 122 second elastic annular seal element [0081] 123 third elastic annular seal element [0082] 124 fourth elastic annular seal element [0083] 13 bellows mounting [0084] 14 first annular lip [0085] 15 second annular lip [0086] 16 annular hub inner surface [0087] 17 annular outer region [0088] 18 annular inner region [0089] 19 sealing lip [0090] 20 big bellows free chamber [0091] 21 bellows element free chamber/s [0092] 22 transition surface [0093] 23 ring sealing lip [0094] 24 sealing ring [0095] 25 bellows element [0096] 26 junction gear coupling with toothing according to the state of the art