FLEXIBLE TRANSMISSION COMPONENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TRANSMISSION COMPONENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible transmission components for a harmonic drive comprising a resilient toothing element formed as a sheet metal part and having external toothing, and a printed circuit board bonded to the toothing element.

Claims

1. A flexible transmission component configured for a harmonic drive, the flexible transmission component comprising: a resilient toothing element formed as a sheet metal part and having external toothing, and a printed circuit board bonded to the resilient toothing element.

2. (canceled)

3. The flexible transmission component according to claim 1, wherein the resilient toothing element is configured as a collar sleeve having a collar, and the collar is bonded to the printed circuit board.

4. The flexible transmission component according to claim 3, further comprising a force sensor system arranged on the collar of the resilient toothing element.

5. The flexible transmission component according to claim 4, wherein the force sensor system is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

6. The flexible transmission component according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating and thermally conductive bonding film configured to attach the resilient toothing element to the printed circuit board.

7. A method for producing a transmission component, comprising: providing a resilient toothing element formed as a collar sleeve having a cylindrical, externally toothed section and a collar adjoining thereto, and bonding a printed circuit board to the collar of the collar sleeve.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board is bonded to the collar sleeve via heating.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board is bonded to the collar sleeve at room temperature via an acrylate bonding agent.

10. The flexible transmission component according to claim 1, wherein the flexible transmission component is configured as a non-rotating element in the harmonic drive.

11. The flexible transmission component according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is shaped as a washer.

12. The flexible transmission component according to claim 1, where the printed circuit board is configured with outwardly extending fastening straps.

13. A flexible transmission component configured for a harmonic drive, the flexible transmission component comprising: a resilient toothing element having: a cylindrical section, a collar, and external toothing, and a printed circuit board arranged on the collar.

14. The flexible transmission component of claim 13, wherein the collar is integrally formed with the cylindrical section.

15. The flexible transmission component of claim 14, wherein the printed circuit board is bonded to the collar.

16. The flexible transmission component of claim 15, wherein the printed circuit board is bonded to an axial face of the collar.

17. The flexible transmission component of claim 16, wherein the cylindrical section includes external toothing.

18. The flexible transmission component of claim 17, wherein a first width of the external toothing is less than half a second width of the cylindrical section, the first and second widths measured in an axial direction of the resilient toothing element.

19. The flexible transmission component of claim 14, further comprising a force sensor system arranged on the collar of the resilient toothing element.

20. The flexible transmission component of claim 14, further comprising an electrically insulating and thermally conductive bonding film configured to attach the resilient toothing element to the printed circuit board.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is explained in more detail by means of a drawing. In the figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a toothing element for a harmonic drive,

[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 show different views of a printed circuit board to be connected to the toothing element according to FIG. 1,

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a transmission component formed from the toothing element and the printed circuit board in a simplified exploded view, and

[0023] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a symbolized representation of the assembly steps for the production of the flexible transmission component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A flexible transmission component identified overall by the reference numeral 1 is designed as a composite component and is intended for use in a harmonic drive, not shown in any more detail. The transmission component 1 is assembled by means of bonding of a toothing element 2 and a printed circuit board 3.

[0025] In FIG. 1, the toothing element 2 is shown in an isolated manner. This is a collar sleeve of a known basic shape. The collar sleeve 2 is designed as an integral sheet metal part and describes a cylindrical section 4 and an adjoining collar 5, i.e. a radially outwardly directed flange. The central axis of the cylindrical section 4 coincides with the central axis of the harmonic drive. The cylindrical section 4 has external toothing 6 in an annular section which borders on the end face of the toothing element facing away from the collar 5. The width of the external toothing 6 measured in the axial direction of the toothing element 2 and thus of the entire transmission component 1 is less than half the total width of the cylindrical section 4 measured in the same direction. The toothing element 2 does not rotate within the harmonic drive.

[0026] When the harmonic drive is in operation, the cylindrical section 4 is permanently deformed by a wave generator, not shown. The deformations continue into the collar 5 to a lesser extent. The collar 5 has a large number of bores 7 in its outer area. The area of the collar 5 in which the bores 7 are located is referred to as the washer section 8. Virtually no deformations occur within the washer section 8 during operation of the harmonic drive. In areas of the collar 5 that are located further inward, mechanical stresses on the toothing element 2 are detected with the aid of strain gauges 9, which are generally referred to as force sensor systems and are symbolized in FIG. 4.

[0027] The signals supplied by the force sensor system 9 are processed further with the aid of an electronic circuit which is arranged on the printed circuit board 3. The printed circuit board 3 shown in isolation in FIGS. 2 and 3 has the shape of a washer with four outwardly directed fastening straps 10 distributed evenly around the circumference.

[0028] The production of the flexible transmission component 1 from the toothing element 2 and the printed circuit board 3 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. On the printed circuit board 3, there is initially a bonding film 11 which is covered by a protective film 12. The toothing element 2 is placed, with the cylindrical section 4 downwards, on a workpiece support 13 which can be heated with the aid of a heating device 14. Use of the heating device 14 depends on the composition of the bonding film 11. On the workpiece resting on the workpiece support 13, i.e. toothing element 2, the printed circuit board 3 is placed under moderate pressure with the aid of a tool 15, which can be moved in the vertical direction, as indicated by two arrows in FIG. 6, wherein a bonding connection 16 between the toothing element 2 and the printed circuit board 3 is produced. Detachment of the bonding connection 16 is not provided. The collar 5 of the collar sleeve 2 is permanently stabilized by the bonding connection 16. At the same time, an economically producible, space-saving, mechanically damping connection is provided between the toothing element 2 and the printed circuit board 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0029] 1 Transmission component [0030] 2 Toothing element, collar sleeve [0031] 3 Printed circuit board [0032] 4 Cylindrical section [0033] 5 Collar [0034] 6 External toothing [0035] 7 Bore [0036] 8 Washer section [0037] 9 Strain gauges, force sensor system [0038] 10 Fastening straps [0039] 11 Bonding film [0040] 12 Protective film [0041] 13 Workpiece support [0042] 14 Heating device [0043] 15 Tool [0044] 16 Bonding connection