OVERLOAD CLUTCH

Abstract

An overload clutch, for example a slip clutch, for the transmission of a torque limited in its strength, acting about a torque axis, from a driving part, for example a transmission of a drive shaft of a wind turbine, to an driven part situated, in particular, axially downstream, for example a drive train of a generator, having: at least one first body connected to either the driving part or the driven part in a torque-resistant manner, and at least one second body correspondingly connected to the other part in a torque-resistant manner, i.e. the driven part or the driving part, respectively, wherein the second body has a plurality of frictional elements biased against frictional counterparts on the first body along at least one biasing axis while forming a frictional engagement between the first body and the second body, wherein the frictional elements are supported in frictional element seats within the second body to be moveable, in particular displaceable, along the biasing axis.

Claims

1. An overload clutch for the transmission of a torque limited in its strength, acting about a torque axis, from a driving part, to an axially downstream driven part, comprising: at least one first body connected to either the driving part or the driven part in a torque-resistant manner, and at least one second body correspondingly connected to the other of the driving part and the driven part in a torque-resistant manner, respectively, wherein the at least one second body comprises a plurality of frictional elements biased against frictional counterparts on the at least one first body along at least one biasing axis while forming a frictional engagement between the at least one first body and the at least one second body, wherein the plurality of frictional elements are supported in frictional element seats within the at least one second body to be moveable along the at least one biasing axis, clamped by the frictional counterparts due to a biasing force, and fixed in position at least until an overload torque is reached; characterized in that the at least one second body includes a plurality of frictional element seats penetrating the at least one second body along a penetration axis, wherein the plurality of frictional elements (18) are supported in the plurality of frictional element seats to be moveable along said penetration axis.

2. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the biasing axis extends essentially parallel to the torque axis.

3. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of frictional elements are supported in the plurality of frictional element seats to be rotatable about the biasing axis.

4. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one second body comprises an inner body and the at least one first body comprises an outer body, or vice-versa, wherein the outer body encloses the inner body at least in part.

5. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first body comprises a caliper, and/or the at least one second body comprises a friction disc, wherein the friction disc comprises the plurality of frictional element seats, in which the plurality of frictional elements are supported to be displaceable along the biasing axis.

6. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first body includes two first partial bodies, and the at least one second body includes at least one second partial body, or vice-versa. cm 7. The overload clutch according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and second partial bodies are alternately stacked in particular along the biasing axis and arranged parallel to each other in a plurality of disc planes extending orthogonal to the biasing axis.

8. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first body and the at least one second body are formed such that, in a biased state, at least one partial body of one of the at least one first body and the at least one second body in which the plurality of frictional element seats are formed, is formed to be moveable relative to at least one partial body of the other of the at least one first body and the at least one second body is formed to be displaceable at least along the biasing axis.

9. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one biasing means is provided, which biases at least two partial bodies of the at least one first body against each other while biasing and applying pressure to at least one frictional element situated on the at least one second body, or vice-versa.

10. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one biasing means is provided which, for establishing the frictional engagement between the at least one first body and the at least one second body, biases and applies pressure to the plurality of frictional elements situated on the at least one second body along the at least one biasing axis against frictional counterparts situated on the at least one first body.

11. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one frictional element comprises a frictional cylinder symmetrically formed about a rotary axis.

12. The overload clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of frictional element seats are formed as drilled holes.

Description

[0037] The same and equivalent components will be designated with the same reference numerals in the following, wherein high indices will sometimes be used for the purpose of differentiation.

[0038] FIGS. 1 and 2-5 show two embodiments of the overload clutch according to the invention. In each case, the overload clutch 1 is configured as a slip clutch and is adapted to transmit a torque M acting about a torque axis A.sub.M from a driving part 2, for example a transmission of a drive shaft 3 of a wind turbine, in particular, to a driven part 12 situated, in particular, axially downstream, for example a drive train 13 of a generator. To avoid, for example, a torque being fed back from the side of the generator to the drive shaft 3, the slip clutch, or overload clutch, 1 only transmits a torque that is limited in its strength. The overload clutch comprises a first body 4 and a second body 14 connected to each other by frictional engagement and allows a torque to be transmitted between the driving part 2 and the driven part 12.

[0039] It should be noted that in the scope of the present disclosure everything that is said about the first body 2 can alternatively or identically also apply to the second body 12, or vice-versa.

[0040] In the embodiment shown here, the first body 4 is connected to the driving part 2, while the second body 14 is connected to the driven part 12. The connection is implemented, for example by means of a flange connection or any other type of connection 40, in particular of the releasable kind, as shown in FIG. 1. Such a connection 40 can be, in particular, as shown, a flange connection comprising a flange 42 connected to the driving part 2 or the driven part 12. In the present embodiment, both parts 2, 12 comprise respective flange connections, however, any other type of connection can, of course, also be provided between driving and driven parts and the first and second parts 4, 14 of the overload clutch, respectively. In the present embodiment 4, each flange has an interlocking connection to the driven part 12, or the driving part 2 and can be releasably connected to each of the first body 4, or the second body 14, of the overload clutch by means of bolt connections 43. As shown, in particular, in the embodiments of FIGS. 2-5, corresponding bolt seats 44 or bolt through holes 44 are provided on each of bodies 4 and 14, respectively, to receive the bolts 43 (see FIG. 1). In the present case, the connections between the driving part, or the driven part and each of bodies 4, 14 are configured to be torque-resistant so that the torque from the driving part is transmitted to the driven part via the overload clutch.

[0041] In this embodiment, the second body 14 comprises a plurality of frictional elements 18 supported on the second body 14 in frictional element seats 19 and transmit the torque M, while establishing a frictional engagement between the first body 4 and the second body 14. The frictional elements 18, supported on the second body 14, are thus in frictional engagement with frictional counterparts 8 situated on the first body 4. The frictional elements, while establishing a frictional engagement between the first body 4 and the second body 14, are biased against frictional counterparts 8 on the first body 4 along a biasing axis A.sub.V, and in the present embodiment, clamped against the frictional counterparts 8 with the application of a pressure. The frictional elements 18 are supported in the frictional element seats 19 within the second body 14 to be moveable and, in particular, displaceable along each biasing axis A.sub.V.

[0042] It can also be seen that, in the present embodiment, the second body 14 optionally comprises an inner body 17 and the first body 4 optionally comprises an outer body 7. The reverse is, of course, also possible. In the present embodiment, the outer body 7 at least partially encloses the inner body 17. In particular, the first body 4 optionally comprises a caliper 6 and/or the second body 14 optionally comprises a friction disc 16. The second body and, in particular, the friction disc 16 can comprise a plurality of frictional element seats 19 in which the frictional elements 18 are supported to be moveable, optionally displaceable, in particular, along the biasing axis A.sub.V.

[0043] It can be seen that, in the present embodiment, the frictional elements 18 are optionally clamped between first partial bodies 5 of the first body 4, or outer body 7. They penetrate the second body 14 and, in particular the friction disc 16, thus enabling a torque transmission between the first body 4 and the second body 14.

[0044] Optionally, the first body 4 comprises at least two first partial bodies 5, in particular first annular elements, and the second body 14 comprises at least one second partial body 15, in particular a second annular element, or vice-versa, which are alternately stacked along the biasing axis A.sub.V and, in particular arranged in parallel to each other in a plurality of disc planes orthogonal to the biasing axis.

[0045] To enable essentially backlash-free torque transmission, the support of the frictional elements 18 in the frictional element seats 19 of the friction disc 16, or the second partial body 15, is formed in a backlash-free manner in an axis orthogonal to the biasing axis A.sub.V. Optionally, the frictional elements are supported in the frictional element seats in such a manner that any movement along an axis deviating from the biasing axis is essentially prevented. The frictional elements are optionally fitted in the frictional element seats so that they are able to move only along the biasing axis A.sub.V, but are axially fixed in the other directions. It is conceivable to support the frictional elements in the frictional element seats 19 in a manner in which they are backlash-free and/or constraint-free other than along the biasing axis A.sub.V. It is also conceivable to support the frictional elements 18 in the frictional element seats 19 to be rotatable about the biasing axis A.sub.V.

[0046] As shown, in particular, in FIG. 3, at least one frictional element 18 comprises or is formed as a frictional cylinder 21 or a similar frictional body rotation-symmetrically formed about a rotary axis. The rotary axis can optionally be parallel to the biasing axis A.sub.V, along which the frictional element is moveably supported in the frictional element seats 19. In the present embodiment, the frictional elements 18 are formed as frictional cylinders, each comprising two opposite coplanar end faces 22. Each of these end faces 22 of the frictional elements 18 are in frictional engagement with frictional counterparts 8 on the first body 4. As already mentioned, these frictional counterparts 8 can be coatings, inlays, additional components arranged on the body 4, but also untreated or treated partial areas of the first body 4.

[0047] As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the frictional elements 18 are optionally insertable and, in particular, exchangeable in each of the frictional element seats 19 without the use of a tool, when the second body is not installed on the first body. It can also be seen that, in the installed state and in the cooperation of the first and second bodies, the frictional elements are optionally held in the frictional element seats 19 by the first body 4.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the second body 14 optionally comprises a plurality of frictional element seats 19 penetrating the second body 14 along a penetration axis A.sub.D (see FIG. 1). The frictional elements 18 are supported in the frictional element seats 19 to be moveable along this penetration axis. The penetration axis A.sub.D can extend in parallel to, or can be coaxial with, the biasing axis A.sub.V and/or the rotary axis A.sub.R and/or to the torque axis A.sub.M. Optionally, the frictional element seats 19 are formed as drilled holes and are formed, in particular, orthogonal in a disc or in a similar element, which the second body comprises.

[0049] It becomes clear, in particular, in FIGS. 4 and 5, that the first body 4 and the second body 14 are optionally formed in such a manner that the frictional elements inserted in the frictional element seats 19 are clamped by the frictional counterparts 8. The result is a frictional engagement between the first body 4 and the second body 14 to transmit the torque M shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the first body 4 optionally comprises at least two first partial bodies 5, in particular first annular elements, and the second body 14 comprises at least one second partial body 15, in particular a second annular element, or vice-versa. These partial bodies 5, 15 are optionally arranged in an alternately stacked configuration, in particular, along the biasing axis A.sub.V and/or the torque axis A.sub.M and/or the rotary axis A.sub.R. For example, a first partial body 5 of the first body 4 is followed by a second partial body 15 of the second body 5, followed by a further first partial body 5 of the first body 4 in the axial direction (of at least one of the above-mentioned axes).

[0050] FIGS. 4 and 5 further show an embodiment in which the bias is a spring bias, applied by at least one biasing means 30, here, in particular, an elastic bolt or a similar attachment means. This elastic bolt is formed in such a way that it is elastically longitudinally extended by the biasing force F.sub.V applied to the frictional elements, and thus applies the biasing force along the biasing axis A.sub.V to the first body 4 or its partial bodies 5 and the frictional elements 18.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the biasing means 30 is optionally arranged in such a manner that at least two partial bodies 5 of the one body 4 is biased against the other body, here the second body 14, while applying pressure to at least one frictional element 18.

[0052] In the present embodiment, at least one sealing element 50 is optionally arranged between the first body 4 and the second body 14, which extends between the first body 4 and the second body 14 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). This sealing element is optionally in sliding engagement with at least one of bodies 4, 14. It is optionally formed such that the ingress of objects from the outside of the overload clutch 1 into the frictional engagement area between the frictional counterparts 8 and the frictional elements 18 is prevented. The sealing element 50 can be optionally configured in such a manner that it causes a biasing force between the first body 4 and the second body 14 and thus elastically defines the position of the second body 14 relative to the first body 4.

[0053] It is possible, in particular, in the present context, that the first body 4 and the second body 14 are formed in such a manner that, in the biased state, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4, at least one partial body 15 of the one body 14, in which the frictional element seats 19 are formed, is formed to be moveable and, in particular, displaceable relative to the other body 4 along the biasing axis A.sub.V and/or the rotary axis A.sub.R and/or the torque axis A.sub.M. Due to the sealing element 50 which, in the present case, is formed to be elastic, this ability to be longitudinally displaced is ensured.

[0054] As shown, in particular, in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the driving part 2 is optionally connected to the first body 4, and the first body 4 and the driven part 12 are optionally connected to the second body 14. In relation to the torque axis, the connection region between the driven part 12 or the driving part 2 and the second body can be arranged to be radially inward from a connecting region of the first body to the corresponding driving part 2 and driven part 12, respectively. In the present embodiment, the connection region between the driven part 12 and the second body 14 is situated within the connecting region of the driving part 2 to the outer body 4. Both connecting regions are optionally coaxially arranged with respect to each other. This optionally also applies to the rotary axis A.sub.M which coaxially extends in both parts, in particular in the driving part 2 and the driven part 12. Optionally, the first body and the second body are configured in such a manner that due to the bias the frictional elements 18 on one body 14 are clamped by the frictional counterparts 8 on the other body 4, here the first body 4, and are optionally positionally fixed along at least one axis until the overload torque is reached.

[0055] FIGS. 6 to 9 show a further embodiment of the overload clutch according to the invention corresponding, in its basic components, to the embodiments of overload clutches described before. Unless otherwise indicated, everything that was described above also applies to the embodiment shown here. As before, a first body 4 is shown, also configured to be in two parts, comprising two first partial bodies 5, and a second body 14, again configured as a friction disc and comprising frictional elements 18 supported in frictional element seats 19 of the second body 14.

[0056] Again, the two first partial bodies 5 of the first body 4 are biased towards each other via elastic biasing means 30 or elastic bolts while clamping the frictional elements 18. Again, it is conceivable to form the first body 4 as a caliper 6 or an outer body 7. This is identically applicable to the second body 14, which can be optionally formed as a friction disc 16, or as an inner body 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0057] 1 overload clutch [0058] 2 driving part [0059] 3 drive shaft [0060] 4 first body [0061] 5 first partial body [0062] 6 caliper [0063] 7 outer body [0064] 8 frictional counterpart [0065] 12 driven part [0066] 13 drive train [0067] 14 second body [0068] 15 second partial body [0069] 16 friction disc [0070] 17 inner body [0071] 18 frictional element [0072] 19 frictional element seat [0073] 22 end face [0074] 30 biasing means [0075] 40 connection [0076] 42 flange [0077] 43 bolt [0078] 44 bolt seat [0079] A.sub.M torque axis [0080] A.sub.V biasing axis [0081] A.sub.R rotary axis [0082] F.sub.V biasing force