COUPLING FLANGE

Abstract: A flange (6) for coupling a cylindrical element (4) to be driven at a high rotational speed with an inner, and coaxial, rotating axle (2), comprising a first cylindrical inner part (26) connected with the axle, and connected via a connecting part (12), to a cylindrical radially outer part (20, 10) which bears the cylindrical part (4), with which it is intended to accomplish to retain a good contact, also at high rotational speeds, between this outer surface (10) and the rotor (4) carried on it. For this purpose the connecting part (6) in the invention is formed by two disc-shaped parts (14, 16) situated at a distance from one another in an axial and radial direction, the outermost (14) of which is connected to the outer part (20) via an essentially right-angled transition, the innermost (16) of which is connected to the inner part (26) via an essentially right-angled transition, and which are connected to one another via an intermediary part (24) via an essentially right-angled transition.

Description: Short title: Coupling flange The invention concerns a flange for coupling a cylindrical element to be driven at a high rotational speed with an inner, and coaxial, rotating axle, comprising a first cylindrical inner part connected with the axle, and connected, via a connecting part, to a cylindrical element bearing outer part situated radially outside it. Such a flange is well-known from US Patent specification 4.860.611. With this well-known flange which, just as the flange according to the invention, is primarily intended for bearing the rotor of an energy storing device fitted to its outer part, it is intended to accomplish to retain the contact, also at high rotational speeds, between this outer surface and the rotor carried on it, due to the intermediary part being able to yield elastically in a radial direction, while the radial rigidity, required to counteract any radially, concentrated loads, and which is also necessary for a good vibration behaviour, is nevertheless maintained. For this purpose in the well-known design the intermediary part has a very special, complicated, and expensive to manufacture configuration with radial spokes extending from the cylindrical inner part, and an outside .part that due to its configuration can flexibly yield under the influence of centrifugal forces. The invention is intended to obtain the same objective using a construction with better properties. For this purpose the connecting part in the invention is formed by two disc-shaped parts situated at a distance from one another in an axial and radial direction, the outermost of which is connected to the outer part via an essentially right-angled transition, the innermost of which is connected to the inner part via an essentially right-angled transition, and which are connected to one another via an intermediary part via an essentially right-angled transition. With the measures in accordance with the invention a completely uniform contact pressure along the entire circumference is obtained, while a much greater torque can be transferred. Furthermore, the entire unit is much easier to manufacture. A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the intermediary part that is essentially cylindrical and coaxial to the rotating axle. The claimed exclusive right also involves a device with a flange according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one rotor bearing, the rotating inner ring of which closely encloses the external surface of the inner part of the flange, while the stationary outer ring is supported by the surrounding. The invention is elucidated on the hand of the drawing. This shows a cross-section of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the figure the reference numeral 2 indicates the stationary axle of a rotating unit, in particular an energy storage unit, the rotor of which 4 is also partially and schematically illustrated. The coupling between the axle 2 and the rotor 4 is achieved in a very special manner by an essentially U"i - shaped flange 6; a similar flange is also fitted to both the upper and lower end of the axle. The figure illustrates the flange fitted to the upper end of the axle. This flange 6 consists of a cylindrical inner part 8 that encloses the axle 2 and is connected to the rotating part 30 of the bearing 32 and a cylindrical outer part 10 to which the rotor 4 is attached. Inner part 8 and outer part 10 are connected to one another by a connecting part in its entirety indicated by reference numeral 12, which consists of a first, outer, disc-shaped part 14 and a second, inner, also disc-shaped part 16, and which parts are situated at a distance from one another in both an axial and radial direction. They are connected to one another via an intermediary part 18. The outer part 10 merges via a first, essentially right-angled transition 20, into the disc-shaped outer part 14, which then merges via a second, also essentially right- angled transition 22, into the cylindrical intermediary part 18; this intermediary part 18 then merges via a third, also essentially right-angled transition 24, into the disc¬ shaped inner part 16 which continues via a right-angled transition 26 and a transition part 28, which encloses an angle with the centre line 28 of the axis 2 into the cylindrical inner part 8. In the illustrated preferred embodiment the cylindrical inner part 8 bears the inner ring 30 of the ball bearing 32 rotating with it, the outer ring 34 of which is connected via suitably implemented coupling pieces 36 to the bush 40, the flange 42 of which is attached via bolts 44 to a fixed housingpart 46, to which the axle 2 is also attached.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Flange for coupling a cylindrical element to be driven at a high rotational speed with an inner, and coaxial, rotating axle, comprising a first cylindrical inner part connected with the axle, and connected via a connecting part, to a cylindrical element bearing outer part situated radially outside it, characterized in that the connecting part (12) is formed by two disk-shaped parts (14, 16) situated at a distance from one another in both an axial and radial direction, the outermost of which (14) is connected to the outer part (10) via an essentially right- angled transition (20) , the innermost of which (16) is connected to the inner part (8) via an essentially right- angled transition (26) , and which are connected to one another via an intermediary part (18) via an essentially right-angled transition (24, 26). 2. Flange according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediary part (18) is essentially cylindrical and coaxial to the rotating axle. 3. A device with a flange according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one rotor bearing (32) , the rotating inner ring (30) of which closely encloses the external surface of the inner part of the flange (8) , while the stationary outer ring (34) is supported by the surrounding (46) .

Inventors: THOOLEN FRANCISCUS JOHAN MARIE, THOOLEN, FRANCISCUS, JOHAN, MARIE
Applicants: CCM BEHEER BV, THOOLEN FRANCISCUS JOHAN MARIE, CCM BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F16F15
IPC codes: F16F15