FLANGE ARRANGEMENT, FLANGED HUB, STOP MEMBER, GEAR UNIT, ELECTRIC MOTOR, WIND TURBINE AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

Abstract

A flange arrangement includes a power shaft, a flanged hub connected detachably to the power shaft, and a stop member configured to detachably hold the flanged hub on the power shaft and to exert a disassembly force on the flanged hub so as to be able to rotate about a rotation axis of the power shaft.

Claims

1. A flange arrangement, comprising: a power shaft; a flanged hub connected detachably to the power shaft; and a stop member configured to detachably hold the flanged hub on the power shaft and to exert a disassembly force on the flanged hub so as to be able to rotate about a rotation axis of the power shaft.

2. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the disassembly force exerted by the stop member is aligned along the rotation axis of the power shaft.

3. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the stop member has a first front face in facing relation to the power shaft so as to exert a holding force on the flanged hub, and a second front face which faces away from the power shaft and exerts the disassembly force.

4. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the stop member includes a support segment extending radially outward and/or the flanged hub includes a support segment extending radially inward.

5. The flange arrangement of claim 3, wherein the stop member is configured for rotation between a holding position, in which the stop member exerts the holding force, and a disassembly position in which the stop member exerts the disassembly force.

6. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flanged hub has an involute spline in mesh with an involute spine on the power shaft.

7. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flanged hub and the power shaft are connected via a taper seat, a cylindrical press fit, or a shaft-hub connection with key connection.

8. The flange arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a fastener received in the stop member to exert the disassembly force onto the flanged hub.

9. The flange arrangement of claim 1, wherein the power shaft is embodied as a solid shaft or as a hollow shaft.

10. A flanged hub, comprising: a cylinder section having an involute spline; a flange section adjoining the cylinder section; and a support collar configured to axially support the flanged hub on a power shaft as the involute spline of the cylinder section meshes an involute spline of the power shaft, said flanged hub forming part of a flange arrangement as set forth in claim 1.

11. A stop member, comprising: an annular body having a plurality of cut-outs; and fasteners received in the cut-outs and interacting with a power shaft, said stop member forming part of a flange arrangement as set forth in claim 1.

12. A gear unit, comprising a flange arrangement, said flange arrangement comprising a power shaft embodied as a drive shaft or as an output shaft, a flanged hub connected detachably to the power shaft and comprising a cylinder section having an involute spline, a flange section adjoining the cylinder section, and a support collar configured to axially support the flanged hub on the power shaft as the involute spline of the cylinder section meshes an involute spline of the power shaft, and a stop member configured to detachably hold the flanged hub on the power shaft and to exert a disassembly force on the flanged hub so as to be able to rotate about a rotation axis of the power shaft.

13. An electric motor, comprising a flange arrangement, said flange arrangement comprising a power shaft embodied as an output shaft, a flanged hub connected detachably to the power shaft, and a stop member configured to detachably hold the flanged hub on the power shaft and to exert a disassembly force on the flanged hub so as to be able to rotate about a rotation axis of the power shaft.

14. A drive train for a wind turbine, said drive train comprising: a generator; a gear unit connected in a torque-transmitting manner to a generator; a rotor shaft connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the gear unit; and a connection provided between the gear unit and the generator and/or the rotor shaft and including a flange arrangement as set forth in claim 1.

15. A wind turbine, comprising: a nacelle; a rotor attached to the nacelle; and a drive train received in the nacelle and comprising a generator, a gear unit connected in a torque-transmitting manner to a generator, a rotor shaft connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the gear unit, and a connection provided between the gear unit and the generator and/or the rotor shaft and including a flange arrangement as set forth in claim 1.

16. An industrial application, comprising: a drive unit; a gear unit; an output unit connected to the gear unit in a torque-transmitting manner; and a connection provided between the gear unit and the drive unit and/or the output unit and including a flange arrangement as set forth in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0024] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of two half sections of a first embodiment of a flange arrangement according to the present invention, depicting the flange arrangement in the upper half section in a disassembly position and in the lower half section in a holding position;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a flange arrangement according to the present invention, depicting in an upper half the flange arrangement in a disassembly position;

[0027] FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a flanged hub for use in the flange arrangement of FIG. 1 or 2;

[0028] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a stop member for use in the flange arrangement of FIG. 1 or 2;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a wind turbine having incorporated a flange arrangement according to the present invention; and

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an industrial application having incorporated a flange arrangement according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments may be illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0032] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a sectional view of two half sections of a first embodiment of a flange arrangement according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 10. The flange arrangement 10 includes a flange hub 20 and a power shaft 12, which interacts with the flanged hub 20 and is rotatable about a rotation axis 15. In the upper half section of FIG. 1, the flange arrangement 10 is shown in a disassembly position and in the lower half section in a holding position.

[0033] The power shaft 12 may constitute a drive shaft or output shaft of a gear unit 50 (FIGS. 5 and 6) or electric motor, not shown in further detail in FIG. 1, and is embodied as a hollow shaft. The power shaft 12 is provided with an involute spline 17, which meshes with a corresponding involute spline 27 on a cylinder section 22 of the flanged hub 20. A drive power, indicated by arrow 25, is transmitted from the power shaft 12 to the flanged hub 20 via the meshing involute splines 17, 27. Furthermore, a toothing backlash is present between the flanged hub 20 and the power shaft 12 along a peripheral direction, symbolically indicated by reference numeral 47 and extending in FIG. 1 in or out of the drawing plane. The toothing backlash makes it easier to push the flanged hub 20 onto the power shaft 12. On a peripheral inner surface 49, the flanged hub 20 has a support collar 33, which is also embodied peripherally.

[0034] The flange arrangement 10 includes a stop member 30, which is embodied essentially as a holding ring, i.e. has a ring section (FIG. 4). The stop member 30 is formed with support segments 38, between which a clearance region 39 is respectively formed. The support segments 38 of the stop member 30 are embodied to exert a holding force, indicated by arrow 41, onto the support collar 33 for axial support in an assembled state, i.e. the holding position. The support segments 38 form part of a front face 34 of the stop member 30 in facing relation to the power shaft 12. Fasteners 44, e.g. screws by way of example, are received in the stop member 30. The fasteners 44 interact with the power shaft 12 so as to exert the holding force 41. The holding force 41 is essentially exerted in a planar manner by means of the support segments 38 and the support collar 33, as a result of which statically overdetermined bearings are avoided.

[0035] The flanged hub 20 includes a flange section 24 which adjoins the cylinder section 22 and has flange bores 26 via which the flanged hub 20 can be connected to a machine, not shown in more detail, in a torque-transmitting manner. Formed on the inner side 49 of the flanged hub 20 are support segments 28 which extend radially outward with respect to the rotation axis 15. Clearance regions 29 are located between the support segments 28 of the flanged hub 20, essentially similarly to the support segments 38 of the stop member 30. The support segments 28 of the flanged hub 20 belong to a front face 36 of the stop member 30 facing away from the power shaft 12 on a side shown to the right in FIG. 1. The stop member 30 can be rotated about the rotation axis 15 such that the support segments 28 of the flanged hub 20 oppose the support segments 38 of the power shaft 12, thereby establishing the disassembly position for the stop member 30. The fasteners 44, received in the stop member 30, are able to exert a supporting force, indicated by arrow 31, onto the power shaft 12, so that the stop member 30 is pressed in a direction of the front face 36 which faces away from the power shaft 12. As a result of the opposing support segments 28, 38 on the stop member 30 and the flanged hub 20, a disassembly force, indicated by arrow 42, is applied upon the flanged hub 20, so that the flanged hub 20 is removed. The stop member 30 thus combines two functions, i.e. as a holding member in the assembled state and as an auxiliary disassembly member of the flange arrangement 10.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a flange arrangement according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 100. Parts corresponding with those in FIG. 1 are denoted by identical reference numerals. The flange arrangement 100 includes a power shaft 12, which forms part of a gear unit 50 or electric motor, not shown in more detail. The power shaft 12 is embodied as a hollow shaft and is rotatable about a rotation axis 15. A flanged hub 20 is arranged on the power shaft 12 and includes a cylinder section 22 formed with an involute spline 27 for engagement in an involute spline 17 on the power shaft 12 and thereby transmits a drive power, indicated by arrow 25. A rotation takes hereby place in a peripheral direction, indicated by double arrow 47. As a result of the involute splines 17, 27, a play exists between the flanged hub 20 and the power shaft 12 in the peripheral direction 47. Adjoining the cylinder section 22 is a flange section 24 which is formed with a plurality of flange bores 28. The drive power 25 can be transmitted to a machine, not shown in more detail, by means of the flange section 24. The flanged hub 20 is further provided with a centering seat 23 to align the flanged hub 20 on the power shaft 12. A peripheral support collar 33, which abuts the power shaft 12, is embodied on an inner side of the flanged hub 20.

[0037] The flange arrangement 100 includes a stop member 30, which is embodied essentially as a holding ring. Received in the stop member 30 are fasteners 44, e.g. screws, via which the stop member 30 exerts a holding force, indicated by arrow 41, onto the support collar 33. The flanged hub 20 is herewith pressed by the holding force 41 axially against the power shaft 12. Support segments 38 of the stop member 30 project radially outward and rest in an essentially planar manner on the power shaft 12, thereby eliminating the need for a statically overdetermined bearing. When releasing the fasteners 44, the stop member 30 can be rotated about the rotation axis 15. As a result, the support segments 38 of the stop member 30 can be rotated relative to support segments 28 of the flanged hub 20, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, a disassembly force can be exerted onto the flanged hub 20 by the stop member 30, thereby establishing a disassembly position, shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the stop member 30 can be rotated into a holding position, in which the support segments 38 of the stop member 30 oppose clearance regions 29 between the support segments 28 of the flanged hub 20 and vice versa. When assuming the holding position, the stop member 30 can be assembled and is capable to exert the holding force 41 onto the support collar 33.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an oblique view of a flanged hub 20 for use in the flange arrangement 10 or 100. The flanged hub 20 has a cylinder section 22 and a flange section 24 which adjoins the cylinder section 22 and includes flange bores 26. An involute spline 27 is embodied on an inner side 49 of the flanged hub 20 and meshes with a corresponding involute spline on a power shaft, not shown in FIG. 3. The flanged hub 20 is able to transmit via the involute spline 27 a drive power when rotated about the rotation axis. FIG. 3 further shows on the inner side 49 of the flanged hub 20 the provision of the peripheral support collar 33 via which holding force 41 can be exerted onto the flanged hub 20. The flange hub 20 further includes support segments 28 which in relation to the rotation axis 15 extend radially inward and have an essentially ring segment shape. The support segments 28 are distanced from one another by clearance regions 29. The support segments 28 are capable of receiving disassembly force 42, by means of which a removal of the flanged hub 20 from the power shaft, not shown in more detail, can be enabled or at least assisted.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a stop member 30 for use in the flange arrangement 10 or 100. The stop member 30 can be used in combination with a flanged hub 20 according to FIG. 3. The stop member 30 is embodied as a holding ring and includes a ring segment 32. Support segments 38 are formed on the ring segment 32 essentially at a same angle indexing. The support segments 38 are essentially embodied to be ring segment-shaped and project radially outward with respect to rotation axis 15. The support segments 38 are distanced from one another in the peripheral direction 47, with clearance regions 39 extending between the support segments 38. Furthermore, the stop member 30 has two front faces 34, 36, with front face 34 facing the power shaft (not shown in FIG. 4) in an assembled state and the opposite front face 36 facing away from the power shaft and thus pointing in a direction of its free end. The support segments 38 also form with their respective sides part of the corresponding front faces 34, 36. Furthermore, the stop member 30 is formed with bores for receiving fasteners, not shown in more detail, and bores with transmission threads 37.

[0040] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic illustration of a wind turbine, generally designated by reference numeral 70 and having incorporated a flange arrangement 10 or 100 according to the present invention. For sake of simplicity, the following description refers, by way of example, only to flange arrangement 10 but the principles described in the following description with respect to the flange arrangement 10 are equally applicable to the flange arrangement 100.

[0041] The wind turbine 70 includes a rotor 63, which is rotatably attached to a nacelle 65. The rotor 63 is connected to a rotor shaft 62, which represents the power shaft of the flange arrangement 10 and is in driving relationship via gear unit 50 to a generator 64, which is used as an example of a machine as referred to above. The rotor shaft 62, the gear unit 50 and the generator 64 form part of a drive train 60 of the wind turbine 70, which drive train 60 is accommodated in the nacelle 65. The gear unit 50 is connected in a torque-transmitting manner via the flanged hub 20 of the flange arrangement 10 to the rotor shaft 62. The gear unit 50 is further connected with a power shaft 12, which is embodied as a solid shaft and by means of which the torque-transmitting connection to the generator 64 is established. The power shaft 12, which leads to the generator 64, is coupled to the generator 64 via the flanged hub 20 of another flange arrangement 10. The power shaft 12 and the flanged hub 20 to couple the generator 64 to the gear unit 50 thus form part of the other flange arrangement 10.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an industrial application, generally designated by reference numeral 80 and having incorporated a flange arrangement 10 or 100 according to the present invention. For sake of simplicity, the following description refers again, by way of example, only to flange arrangement 10 but the principles described in the following description with respect to the flange arrangement 10 are equally applicable to the flange arrangement 100.

[0043] The industrial application 80 has a drive unit 82 and an output unit 84, which are connected to one another in a torque-transmitting manner by way of a gear unit 50. The drive unit 82 generates the drive power 25 to operate the output unit 84. The drive unit 82 is embodied as an electric motor. The output unit 84 is embodied as a mechanical application. The output unit 84 is accordingly embodied so that the industrial application 80 is, for instance, a mill, vertical mill, sugar mill, cement mill, rock breaker, conveyor belt, pump, roller press, slat conveyor, tube mill, rotary kiln, slewing gear, agitator, lifting apparatus, compactor or crusher. The gear unit 50 is connected to the drive unit 82 by way of a power shaft 12 and a flanged hub 20 of a flange arrangement 10 according to the present invention. In this regard, the power shaft 12 is an output shaft of the electric motor. The gear unit 50 is furthermore provided with a power shaft 12, by way of which the drive power is transmitted to the output unit 84. For this purpose, the power shaft 12 is coupled to a flanged hub 20, which, together with the power shaft 12, forms part of another flange arrangement 10 according to the present invention. Furthermore, the industrial application 80 according to FIG. 6 is provided with a flange arrangement 10 according to the present invention which is arranged on an exit side of the gear unit 50. As a result, the power shaft 12, which connects the gear unit 50 to the output unit 84, is connected to the gear unit 50.

[0044] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0045] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: