Clutch and method for the production thereof

Abstract

A clutch as used, for example, in vehicle drives, in particular rail vehicle drives. A clutch is specified, by way of which the electric contact between the drive side and the output side of the clutch is prevented reliably, and a simple and inexpensive method for the production thereof is also specified. The problem is solved by way of a clutch, at least consisting of a clutch half on the drive side and a clutch half on the output side, wherein at least one clutch half has at least two hollow cylinders which are arranged above one another and are arranged in a bore of the clutch half, wherein the second hollow cylinder consists of electrically insulating material, and wherein at least the first hollow cylinder, at least on its outer circumferential surface, and at least the inner circumferential surface of the bore have knurling at least in part.

Claims

1. Coupling (1) for rail vehicle drives, comprised of at least a first coupling half (4) on a drive side and a second coupling half (5) on an output side, wherein at least the second coupling half (5), starting from a drive shaft or an output shaft (2, 3) and connected to it by form fit, force locking, and/or material bonding, includes at least two hollow cylinders (6, 8) which are arranged above one another and joined together by form fit, force locking, and/or material bonding, which are situated in a bore of the second coupling half (5), which is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft (2, 3) in the second coupling half (5), wherein a first hollow cylinder (6) and the second coupling half (5) include electrically conductive material at least in the region of the bore and a second hollow cylinder (8) includes electrically insulating material, and wherein at least the first hollow cylinder (6) has at least partially a knurling (7) at least on its outer lateral surface on a side facing away from the drive shaft or output shaft (2, 3) and at least the inner lateral surface of the bore has at least partially a knurling (9) in the second coupling half (5), and wherein the second hollow cylinder (8) has a knurling (7, 9) partly or entirely on the inner and outer lateral surface, and wherein the second hollow cylinder (8) has a completely interlocking contact over the entire circumference between the outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder (6) and the inner lateral surface of the bore in the second coupling half (5).

2. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the coupling (1) is a tooth coupling, a flexible link coupling, a flexible disc coupling, a flange coupling, a frictional clutch or a diaphragm coupling.

3. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the first hollow cylinder (6) and the second coupling half (5) include a metallic material at least in the area of the bore.

4. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the second hollow cylinder (8) includes an elastomer, duromer or thermoplastic, of epoxy resin, polyoxymethylene, polyether ether ketone, polyamide, polyurethane or fiberglass-reinforced plastics.

5. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the material of the second hollow cylinder (8) has a dielectric constant or permittivity of at most 9.

6. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the second hollow cylinder (8) has a wall thickness of at least 1 mm.

7. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the form of the knurling (7, 9) on the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder (6) and the bore in the second coupling half (5) is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft (2, 3).

8. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the form of the knurling (7, 9) on the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder (6) and the bore in the second coupling half (5) is arranged at an angle between 0° and 90° to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft (2, 3).

9. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the second coupling half (5) and the two hollow cylinders (6, 8) have a form fitting and force locking contact or a form fitting and material bonded contact or a form fitting, force locking and material bonded contact with each other and with the inner lateral surface of the bore.

10. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the knurling 7, 9) at least over the entire circumference of the inner and outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder (6) and inner lateral surface of the bore of the second coupling half (5) is present partly or entirely over the entire height of the second hollow cylinder (8) and the bore.

11. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the knurling (7, 9) is uniform on at least one lateral surface.

12. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the inner lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder (6) corresponds to the shape of the outer lateral surface of the drive shaft or output shaft (2, 3) and all other lateral surfaces of the first and second hollow cylinder (6, 8) and the bore respectively correspond at least to the shape of the lateral surfaces in contact with them in order to create a force locking, form fitting or material bonded connection.

13. Coupling according to claim 1, in which the outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder (6), the inner and/or outer lateral surface of the second hollow cylinder (8) and the inner lateral surface of the bore have a conical or stepped shape and/or the diameter of the hollow cylinders (6, 8) and/or of the bore is the same or different along its length and the diameter is round, ellipsoidal or polygonal and/or the end faces of the second hollow cylinder (8) end at the end faces and/or the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder (6) and second coupling half (5) with the bore and realize the electrical insulation of the first hollow cylinder (6) and second coupling half (5).

14. Method for producing a coupling (1) for rail vehicle drives, in which at least two coupling halves (4, 5) are produced and at least the second coupling half (5 is made at least from two hollow cylinders (6, 8) arranged above one another, wherein at first the first hollow cylinder (6) and the second coupling half (5) are produced from an electrically conductive material, then a bore is introduced into the second coupling half (5), realizing a substantially parallel arrangement of the second coupling half (5) to the axis of rotation of a drive shaft or an output shaft (2, 3), at least the outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder (6) and the inner lateral surface of the bore in the second coupling (5) half are provided with a knurling (7), and then the second hollow cylinder (8) made of an electrically insulating material is introduced into the space between the first hollow cylinder (6) and the bore in the second coupling half (5) with substantially complete and at least form fitting contact.

15. Method according to claim 14, in which the knurling (7, 9) is introduced in the second coupling half (5) by means of knurling, pressing, thread cutting, lathe turning, milling or embossing on the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder (6) and the second coupling half (5).

16. Method according to claim 14, in which the electrically insulating material of the second hollow cylinder (8) is introduced in a solid, pastelike, liquid or molten form.

17. Method according to claim 14, in which a polymer material is introduced as the electrically insulating material of the second hollow cylinder (8).

18. Method according to claim 14, in which the material of the second hollow cylinder (8) is press-fitted or injected into the space between the second hollow cylinder (8) and the bore in the second coupling half (5).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a tooth coupling according to the invention,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a flexible link coupling,

(3) FIG. 3 shows a flexible disc coupling,

(4) FIG. 4 shows a flange coupling,

(5) FIG. 5 shows a frictional clutch,

(6) FIG. 6 shows a diaphragm coupling, and

(7) FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of knurling in the case of a flexible link coupling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Example 1

(8) A tooth coupling 1, serving to connect a drive shaft and output shaft 2, 3. The drive shaft 2 may be for example an engine shaft and the output shaft 3 may be a transmission shaft for a vehicle. The tooth coupling 1 basically consists of two coupling halves 4, 5, one on the drive side 2 and the other on the output side 3.

(9) The coupling half 4 on the drive side 2 is unchanged with respect to tooth couplings of the prior art. The coupling half 5 on the output side 3 has the design according to the invention.

(10) The first, inner hollow cylinder 6 made of steel has an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the output shaft 3.

(11) The wall thickness of the first hollow cylinder 6 is 14 mm and the length is 65 mm. On the entire outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder 6 there is produced a knurling 7 in the form of ribs by means of knurling arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the output shaft 3. The ribs arranged parallel to each other have a height of 0.6 mm and a mutual spacing of 0.6 mm.

(12) Around the first hollow cylinder 6 there is arranged a bore of the coupling half 5 of the tooth coupling 1, being introduced in rotationally symmetrical manner with the output shaft 3 in the coupling half 5. The diameter of the bore is 5 mm larger than the external diameter of the first hollow cylinder 6.

(13) The coupling half 5 in the area of the bore is likewise made of steel. The bore has a knurling 9 on its entire inner lateral surface, being in the form of ribs. The ribs are arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of rotation of the output shaft 3.

(14) The first hollow cylinder 6 is secured in the bore on a support, maintaining a distance of 5 mm all around, and in the space between the first hollow cylinder 6 and the bore there is injected a pastelike epoxy resin at a temperature of 120° C., entirely filling up the space. After the curing of the epoxy resin, any protruding pieces of the resin are removed. The hardened epoxy resin forms the second hollow cylinder 8. The wall thickness of the second hollow cylinder 8 is 5 mm. The dielectric constant of the epoxy resin is 4.3.

(15) After this, further parts of the tooth coupling 1 are assembled and the coupling is completed.

(16) The tooth coupling 1 according to the invention reliably prevents the electrical contact between drive side and the output side of the coupling, and it can be produced easily and economically.

(17) Additional Items of Note:

(18) The coupling 1 can be a tooth coupling (FIG. 1), a flexible link coupling (FIG. 2), a flexible disc coupling (FIG. 3), a flange coupling (FIG. 4), a frictional clutch (FIG. 5) or a diaphragm coupling (FIG. 6).

(19) The form of the knurling 7 on the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder 6 and the bore in the coupling half can be arranged at an angle between 0° and 90° to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft 2 or output shaft 3.

(20) The coupling half and the two hollow cylinders 6, 7 can have a form fitting and force locking contact or a form fitting and material bonded contact or a form fitting, force locking and material bonded contact with each other and with the inner lateral surface of the bore.

(21) The knurling at least over the entire circumference of the inner and outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder and inner lateral surface of the bore of the coupling half can be present partly or entirely over the entire height of the hollow cylinder and the bore.

(22) The knurling can be uniform on at least one lateral surface.

(23) The second hollow cylinder 8 can have knurling partly or entirely on the inner and/or outer lateral surface.

(24) The inner lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder 6 can correspond to the shape of the outer lateral surface of the drive shaft 2 or output shaft 3 and all other lateral surfaces of the first 6 and second hollow cylinder 8 and the bore respectively can correspond at least to the shape of the lateral surfaces in contact with them in order to create a force locking, form fitting or material bonded connection.

(25) The outer lateral surface of the first hollow cylinder 6, the inner and/or outer lateral surface of the second hollow cylinder 8 and the inner lateral surface of the bore can have a conical or stepped shape and/or the diameter of the hollow cylinders and/or of the bore can be the same or different along its length and the diameter can be round, ellipsoidal or polygonal and/or the end faces of the second hollow cylinder 8 can end at the end faces and/or the lateral surfaces of the first, inner hollow cylinder 6 and coupling half with the bore and can realize the electrical insulation of the first hollow cylinder 6 and coupling half.

(26) The knurling can be introduced in the coupling half by means of knurling, pressing, thread cutting, lathe turning, milling or embossing on the lateral surfaces of the first hollow cylinder and the bore.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(27) 1 Coupling, tooth coupling, a flexible link coupling, a flexible disc coupling, a flange coupling, a frictional clutch or a diaphragm coupling 2 Drive shaft 3 Output shaft 4 First coupling half on the drive side 5 Second coupling half in the output side 6 First hollow cylinder 7 Knurling on the inner hollow cylinder, arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft, is arranged at an angle between 0° and 90° to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft 8 Second hollow cylinder includes an elastomer, duromer or thermoplastic, advantageously of epoxy resin, polyoxymethylene, polyether ether ketone, polyimide, polyurethane or fiberglass-reinforced plastics 9 Knurling on the second hollow cylinder, arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft, is arranged at an angle between 0° and 90° to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft or output shaft