Shaft drive transmission and coupling rod
An inventive coupling rod (12, 42) for a shaft drive rod assembly (11) of a heald shaft (1) is designed as an open bent sheet metal component. The cross-section of this component is uniform along the length of the coupling rod (12, 42), with the exception of its ends (13, 14). Such a coupling rod (12, 42) permits the construction of shaft drive rod assemblies which are cost-effective and light-weight, and are suitable for the high operating speeds of the weaving machine.
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The invention relates to a coupling rod for a shaft drive transmission for a heald shaft, as well as to such a shaft drive transmission.
Referring to document WO 2004/057078 A2, a shaft drive transmission for a heald shaft has been known. The shaft drive transmission is used to effect the rapid movement of the heald shaft. In so doing, the shaft drive transmission translates an approximate back-and-forth movement of a shaft drive into the up-and-down movement used for driving the heald shaft. To achieve this, the shaft drive transmission has three angle levers arranged in a row, each of said levers having two arms. The arms of the angle levers extending downward from a fulcrum are connected to each other by coupling rods. As opposed to this, the arms of the angle levers extending approximately in horizontal direction are connected to the lower shaft rod of the rectangular heald shaft by means of push rods. Via a connecting bar, the aforementioned back-and-forth movement is input into one end of the angle lever, so that the heald shaft can be moved up and down as desired.
As the weaving speed is increased, the heald shafts must be moved faster. Correspondingly, the coupling rods must transmit pulling and pushing forces which also increase, despite the otherwise attempted, and frequently also achieved, weight reduction of the heald shafts. The pulling and pushing forces are of a rocking nature. In addition, the coupling rods do not perform a strict axial movement. On their ends, said coupling rods are connected to the arms of the angle levers and are thus suspended in a pendulum fashion. During rapid movement, a lifting and lowering motion component is created, thus potentially resulting in rocking flexural load being applied to the coupling rods.
Despite the increasing demands on the load capacity, the manufacturing costs for the shaft drive transmission are to be lowered. This objective also involves the coupling rod.
Considering this, it is the object of the invention to provide a shaft drive transmission and, in particular, a coupling rod, which, during operation, can withstand high dynamic loads and are easy to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis object is achieved with the coupling rod in accordance with Claim 1.
The inventive coupling rod for a shaft drive transmission of a heald shaft is designed as an open formed sheet metal component. Preferably, it has a cross-section—aside from potentially subsequently applied cutouts—that is the same along the entire length of the coupling rod. Therefore, said coupling rod can be manufactured by simple sheet metal forming processes, for example, a canting process, roll forming process, and similar processes. This provides for high manufacturing reliability at low cost.
The open formed sheet metal component can combine high buckling stiffness with low weight. This opens the possibility of being able to produce high machine speeds in a simple and cost-effective manner.
The cross-section of the open formed sheet metal component preferably encloses an area having a vertically measured height in operative position that is greater than its horizontally measured width in operative position. Preferably, the width does not exceed the width of a shaft rod. The profile is open; i.e. the edges of the rod-like formed sheet metal component manufactured of a sheet metal strip, for example by profile rolling, are connected to each other in an at least not continuous manner. This imparts the coupling rods with some flexibility, which may have an advantageous effect.
The profile of the formed sheet metal component extends from one end to the other end and creates a straight rod-like element. Connecting means for the angle levers of a shaft drive rod assembly can be provided at the ends. For example, the connecting means can be connection openings, which are provided in the preferably flat lateral walls of the coupling rod and, which, if desired, may be provided with a funnel-shaped edge. If necessary, one or more additional connection locations may be provided, whereby these are arranged between the ends of the formed sheet metal element. Such connecting locations can be used for connecting additional angle levers, guide or carrier tabs, or the like.
The ends of the element preferably have a forked configuration. The forked ends seamlessly adjoin, in one piece, the otherwise formed sheet metal profile. These ends are produced in that, the formed sheet metal profile having a continuously consistent cross-section in longitudinal direction is provided with cutouts. This preferred embodiment can be manufactured in a simple manner, and is sturdy and durable.
The cross-section of the formed sheet metal profile, when the coupling rod is arranged in a use-specific manner, has a height that is greater than its width. Therefore, a back wall or strip wall that is preferably provided on the coupling rod is narrower than the lateral walls. Due to this measure, the connection opening provided for the connection of the angle levers can be provided with a diameter which is at least as large as the width of the strip wall. The connection openings can thus include hinge pins having a diameter that is large enough that the bearing stress occurring at the edge of the connection opening does not result in excessive wear, even in instances of highly dynamic operation.
Preferred embodiments of the coupling rod have side walls with bent edges. Preferably, these edges are bent inward (i.e., toward each other), or even outward (i.e., away from each other), and provide the coupling rod—while maintaining a certain elasticity—with sufficient rigidity, in particular with sufficient buckling stiffness. Preferably, the edges are arranged at a distance from each other. They may also be in contact with each other, however, they are not welded to each other, or at least not welded to each other along the entire length. It is possible to provide, in one of the joints defined by two edges, an air gap or even a select material, for example, a damping material. This may be an adhesive, a plastic material, such as, for example an elastomer, or the like. Due to the absent continuous metal joint and the at least existing flexibility of this joint connection, such formed sheet metal profiles are also referred to as “open profiles”. Such open profiles can be filled with a filler, such as, for example, a plastic material or a foamed material.
The coupling rod provides the shaft drive rod assembly with a lower total weight and a high load-bearing capacity, while, at the same time, manufacturing costs are low.
Details of advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the claims, drawings or the description.
The drawing shows exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The heald shaft 1 is associated with lateral supports 5, 6, which hold the shaft rods 2, 3 at a fixed distance from each other, forming a rectangular frame with said shaft rods. This rectangular frame as a whole is moved vertically upward and downward during the shed formation, i.e., up and down. In order to drive the heald shaft 1, a shaft drive 7 is provided and symbolized only by a rocker 8 and by a connecting rod 9 which imparts the rocker 8 with a rocking motion about a fulcrum 10. This rocking motion is indicated in
In order to transmit the drive motion from the rocker 8 to the heald shaft 1 and to translate the drive motion into an up-and-down motion of the heald shaft 1, a shaft drive rod assembly 11 is provided. The latter comprises a coupling rod 12, which preferably is arranged parallel to the shaft rods 2, 3 beneath the heald shaft 1. On both its ends 13, 14, it is connected to respectively one downward pointing arm 15, 16 of an angle lever 17, 18. Both angle levers 17,18 are supported such that they can be pivoted about a stationary respective fulcrum 19, 20, which, for example, is designed as a bearing pin on a not specifically illustrated frame. Another arm 21, 22 extents from each fulcrum 19, 20 away from the arm 15, 16 at an approximately right angle. Push rods 23, 24 are hinged to the ends of the arms 21, 22, said push rods being connected to the heald shaft 1. For example, they are connected to the lateral supports 5, 6 in order to input the up-and-down drive movement into the shaft rod at that point. Alternatively, the angle levers 17, 18 can be connected to the shaft rod 3 via corresponding tabs.
At the ends 13, 14, the strip wall 27 is cut out so that cutouts 30, 31 are formed. The bending lines 28, 29 end at the cutouts 30, 31 and are arranged in straight extension relative to the exposed edges of the lateral walls 25, 26 at that point. These lateral walls form free-standing flaps that extend parallel to each other and provide the profiled element with forked ends 13, 14.
On the ends 13, 14, the lateral walls 25, 26 are provided with openings 32, 33, 34, 35 that form the connection openings for the angular levers 17, 18. The openings 32, 33, 34, 35 provided on the ends 13, 14 are in alignment parallel to each other. The opening 32 is in alignment with the opening 33, and the opening 34 with the opening 35. All openings are provided with inward-directed drafts 36, 37, 38, 39 having the shape of a truncated cone, said drafts holding an angle lever held between the lateral walls at a distance with respect to the lateral wall and centering a potential bearing, for example, a ball bearing.
On their edge away facing away from the strip wall 27, the lateral walls 25, 26 are provided with bent edges 40, 41. Preferably, these edges are bent inward at 180°, i.e., first toward each other and then toward the strip wall 27. In so doing, they preferably are at a distance parallel to the respective lateral wall 25, 26, which they adjoin. It is also possible to bend the edges 40, 41, after the previously described bending, again toward each other and then again toward the lateral wall 25, 26. Then, the edges 40, 41 have additional bending lines 27, 28. The length of the edges 40, 41, which is to be measured parallel to the strip wall 27 and the lateral walls 25, 26, essentially corresponds to the length of the strip wall 27. The bend edges 40, 41 end on the cutouts 30, 31 in order to allow free passage to the angle levers. Alternatively, the bent edges 40, 41—provided there is enough free space—can also be formed into the region of the cutouts 30, 31 and be adapted to the length of the lateral walls 25, 26. They may be pressed flat in the cutouts 30, 31 against the lateral walls 25, 26, should this be required. Preferably, the edges 40, 41 have a consistent width, i.e., they form a strip having a rectangular contour. The edges 40, 41 may have different heights. For example, it is possible for the height of the edges 40, 41 to substantially correspond to the height of the lateral walls 25, 26. If desired, it is possible to deviate from this shape. Furthermore, the shaft drive rod assembly 11 comprises another coupling rod 42 that connects the rocker 8 to the angle lever 17. The coupling rod 42 can also be connected to the shaft drive rod assembly in a different manner. Essentially, this rod has the same configuration as the coupling rod 12.
The shaft drive rod assembly is disposed to operate as follows:
When in use, the rocker 8 performs the rocking motion as indicated in
As is shown by
As shown by
As shown by
Whereas all the above-described embodiments comprise coupling rods with edges that are at a distance from each other,
Furthermore, it is possible, as shown by
An inventive coupling rod 12, 42 for a shaft drive rod assembly 11 of a heald shaft 1 is designed as an open bent sheet metal component. The cross-section of this component is uniform along the length of the coupling rod 12, 42, with the exception of its ends 13, 14. Such a coupling rod 12, 42 permits the construction of shaft drive rod assemblies which are cost-effective and light-weight, and are suitable for the high operating speeds of the weaving machine.
It will be appreciated that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
List of Reference Numbers:
- 1 Heald shaft
- 2 Shaft rod
- 3 Shaft rod
- 4 Healds
- 5 Lateral support
- 6 Lateral support
- 7 Shaft drive
- 8 Rocker
- 9 Connecting rod
- 10 Fulcrum
- 11, 11′ Shaft drive rod assembly
- 12, 12a, 12b, 12′ Coupling rod
- 13 End
- 14 End
- 15 Arm
- 16 Arm
- 17, 17a Angle lever
- 18 Angle lever
- 19 Fulcrum
- 20 Fulcrum
- 21 Arm
- 22 Arm
- 23 Push rod
- 24 Push rod
- 25 Lateral wall
- 26 Lateral wall
- 27 Strip wall
- 28 Bending line
- 29 Bending line
- 30 Cutout
- 31 Cutout
- 32 Opening
- 33 Opening
- 34 Opening
- 35 Opening
- 36 Draft
- 37 Draft
- 38 Draft
- 39 Draft
- 40 Edge
- 41 Edge
- 42 Coupling rod
- 43 Arrow
- 44 Fulcrum
- 45 Link
- 46 Connecting piece
- 47 Rivet
- 48 Rivet
- 112 Coupling rod
- 127 Strip wall
- 140 Edge
- 141 Edge
- 144 Back section
- 145 Back section
- 146 Gap
- 112, 212 Coupling rod
- 240 Edge
- 241 Edge
- 244, 245 Back section
- 246 Gap
- 312 Coupling rod
- 340 Edge
- 341 Edge
- 346 Gap
- 412 Coupling rod
- 440 Edge
- 441 Edge
- 446 Gap
- 427 Strip wall
- 512 Coupling rod
- 525 Lateral wall
- 526 Lateral wall
- 527 Strip wall
- 540 Edge
- 541 Edge
- 612 Coupling rod
- 640 Edge
- 641 Edge
- 646 Gap
- 712 Coupling rod
- 727 Strip wall
- 740 Edge
- 741 Edge
- 812 Coupling rod
- 825 Lateral wall
- 826 Lateral wall
- 840 Edge
- 841 Edge
- 912 Coupling rod
- 927 Strip wall
- 940 Edge
- 941 Edge
Claims
1. Coupling rod (12, 42) for a shaft drive rod assembly of a heald shaft (1), configured as an open formed sheet metal component.
2. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the coupling rod (12, 42) has two ends (13, 14), between which extends a straight element formed by the formed sheet metal profile.
3. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the coupling rod (12, 42) has at least two lateral walls (25, 26) arranged at a distance from each other, said walls extending parallel to a longitudinal axis that extends from the one end (13) to the other end (14).
4. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the coupling rod (12) has, at least on its two ends (13, 14), cutouts (30, 31) through which respectively one arm (15, 16) of an angle lever (17, 18) to be connected between the two side walls (25, 26) can be inserted.
5. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the element is forked on its two ends (13, 14).
6. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that each of the two lateral walls has on the ends (13, 14) of the coupling rod (12) at least one connection opening (32, 33, 34, 35), whereby the connection openings (32, 33, 34, 35) of the two lateral walls (25, 26) are in paired alignment.
7. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the formed sheet metal component has at least one strip wall (27) and at least two lateral walls (25, 26) which are connected to each other by the strip wall (27).
8. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the lateral walls (25, 26) have a height to be measured perpendicular to the strip wall (27), said height being greater than the width of the strip wall (27) to be measured perpendicular to the lateral walls (25, 26).
9. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the lateral walls (25, 26) subtend respectively the same maximum angle of 90° with the strip wall (27).
10. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the lateral walls (25, 26) have respectively one edge (40, 41) which is bent at least along a bending line relative to the remaining lateral wall (25, 26).
11. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (40, 41) of the lateral walls (25, 26) are bent toward each other.
12. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (540, 541) of the lateral walls (525, 526) are bent away from each other.
13. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (40, 41) of the lateral walls (25, 26) define a distance between each other.
14. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (840, 841) of the lateral walls (825, 826) are arranged so as to abut against each other.
15. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (840, 841) of the lateral walls (825, 826) are not joined to each other.
16. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (840, 841) of the lateral walls (825, 826) are joined to each other.
17. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the edges (840, 841) of the lateral walls (825, 826) are joined to each other by means of a plastic material and/or by an adhesive.
18. Coupling rod in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the coupling rod (12′) has, at a point located between its ends (13, 14), a connecting device (46) for a support guide (45).
19. Shaft drive rod assembly (11) for a heald shaft (1) comprising
- at least two deflecting means (17, 18) for translating a horizontal back-and-forth movement into an up-and-down movement, whereby the deflecting means (17, 18) are connected to the heald shaft (1);
- at least one coupling rod (12, 42) in accordance with claim 1, said rod being connected to the deflecting means (17, 18) in order to transmit the back-and-forth movement between the deflecting means (17, 18).
20. Shaft drive rod assembly in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that the deflecting means (17,18) are composed of respectively one angle lever having a fulcrum (19, 20) and two arms (15, 21; 16, 22) extending therefrom.
21. Shaft drive rod assembly in accordance with claim 20, characterized in that the angle levers (17, 18) are connected to the heald shaft (1) by means of push rods (23, 24) which each adjoin an arm (21, 22) of each angle lever (17, 18) and are pivotally connected to said arm.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2008
Applicant: Groz-Beckert KG (Albstadt)
Inventors: Holger Cabulla (Ingolstadt), Stefan Drope (Albstadt)
Application Number: 11/826,977
International Classification: D03C 1/14 (20060101); D03C 13/00 (20060101); D03C 9/06 (20060101);