TITLE OF THE INVENTION: " A torque-transmitting arrangement."

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention generally refers to a torque-transmitting arrangement.

According to the principles of the invention such torque-transmitting arrangement is to exhibit a first shaft driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation from a means driving said shaft and a second shaft driven to a rotational motion around a second axis of rotation over a force transferring means, wherein the driving is either related to the driving motion of the first shaft or the second shaft is also driven by a means drivning the shaft.

In a particularly proposed embodiment said means is to consist of a propeller driven by wind power.

More specifically the present invention refers to such a torque-transmitting arrangement and in which said force transferring means is to be eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation and on the other hand with said second axis of rotation.

This coordination is based on the end portions of the means being allotted to bearing means for the eccentric cooperation, usually ball bearings, roller bearings or corresponding bearing means exhibiting low friction and substantial forces.

Although the present invention can be offered quite considerable application in various technical fields it should, however, be noted that the present invention has been achieved in connection with the creation of a wind power plant supported by water for producing electric power, particularly a wind power plant supported by pontoons and intended for application at sea where very high waves may be expected sporadically.

More particularly the present invention concerns an application in wind power plants disposed at sea, in which there is a matter of substantial torques, a low number of revolutions, and substantial distances between shafts and in which a plurality of torque-transmitting shafts are to be coordinated for providing a common torque to a single shaft to which a generator for producing electric energy is connected.

As an example, the torque can be 500 000 Nm, the number of revolutions between 10 and 20 rpm and the distance between the shafts 30 to 70 meters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Methods, arrangements and structures related to the technical field mentioned above and having a function and a character fulfilling requirements set up are known earlier in a num-

ber of different embodiments.

Differing structures based on various kinds of angular gears, chain structures, cam belt structures, hydraulic motors and one or more coupling bars belong to the state of the art for transferring torques. The present invention primarily intends to utilize bendable coupling bars, such as pre- stressed wires. In order to transfer the torque over tensile strength it is further possible within the present invention also to utilize coupling bars for transferring compressive forces as well as tractive forces.

As a first example of the state of the art a torque-transmitting arrangement may be men- tioned, which is based on utilizing coupling bars, shown and described in the following Figure 1 , with a first shaft driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation and a second shaft driven to a rotational motion around a second axis of rotation over a force transferring means in the form of a coupling bar, with said force transferring means being eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation and on the other hand with said second axis of rota- tion over bearing means associated with the end portions of the force transferring means and wheels or the like associated with the axes of rotation.

A torque-transmitting arrangement of the type disclosed here has been utilized for many years in rail driven locomotives for train trafic in order to transfer the torque from a shaft driven by the engine of the locomotive with two rail-cooperating wheels to an adjacent shaft having two rail-cooperating wheels.

Torque-transmitting arrangements based on chains, wires, belts, cogbelts acting between shafts placed side by side and wheels associated therewith are also known earlier in various embodiments, wherein it has been shown that angular gears cannot handle parallel shafts in simple manner and that wear and the requirement of maintenance need efforts that turn out to require substantial costs, wherein it turns out that the chain links will be extended to such degree that the graduations between the various links increase with increasing tensile forces, which is a condition that causes wear, and that substantial parts of the material of the chain structures do not participate in the direct torque transfer, a toothbelt structure cannot handle large forces and in which the distance between links increases with increasing tensile forces, the hydraulic motor application is expensive, results in large losses and requires substantial maintenance and in which a utilized coupling bar must be dimensioned against buckling as it will work with compressive forces and requires substantial length and wherein any utilized coupling bar will have to have substantial dimensions.

Known technology with one or more fiexurally rigid force transferring means causes the

thus inter-connected pairs of wheels to offer a synchronous and controlled rotating motion of both of the pairs of wheels irrespective of the orientation of the means, and the means provides a drawing and pushing function for the dimensioned torque transmission.

Arrangements of torque transmission based on chains, wires, belts, cogwheels and the like cause the pairs of wheels interconnected in this manner to have a pronounced pulling cooperation solely over the pulling belt section, whereas the remaining belt section does not contribute to any torque transmission at all.

The contents of the following patent publications also belong to the state of the art, viz. US-204 568-A, DE-352 900-C and US-817 604-A. Patent Publication US-204 568-A shows and describes an apparatus for making possible the transfer of a force or a torque along substantial distances and in which the utilization of wires connected to crankshafts at both ends is disclosed. An arrangement with three wires evenly distributed over one rotation of the shafts is indicated here.

German Patent Specification DE-352 900-C also shows and describes a torque transfer- ring arrangement while utilizing three bars cooperating in the same manner as in the previously mentioned Patent Publication.

Patent Publication US-817 604-A also provides information on how to be able to transfer a torque by means of three wires.

STA TEMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

In view of the circumstance that the technical considerations which a person skilled in the relevant technical art must carry out in order to offer a solution to one or more technical problems set forth are on the one hand initially a necessary knowledge of the measures and/or the sequence of measures that are to be taken and on the other hand a necessary choice of the one or more means which are needed, the following technical problems should consequently be relevant in creating the present subject of invention.

Considering the previous standpoint of technology as it is described above, it must therefore be seen as a technical problem to be able to understand the meaning of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for, in a torque-transmitting arrangement with a first shaft driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation and a second shaft driven to a rotational motion around a second axis of rotation over a force transferring means and wherein said force transferring means is eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation and a wheel or the like connected thereto and on

the other hand with said second axis of rotation and a wheel or the like coupled thereto, over bearing members allotted to the end portions of the means, being able to offer a simple structure of the torque-transmitting arrangement, wherein utilized force transferring means can be structured in each case as at least three force-transferring units which in simple manner can cooperate with and can be mounted to said wheels or the like and are demountable from said wheels in simple manner and thus can be handled as individual units in storage.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for making it possible to show utilization of at least three force-transmitting units included in said force transferring means and in which each one of these units is adapted to be able to cooperate, by means of individual bearing members, with said first shaft and the mentioned second shaft over related crankshafts or wheels or the like.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for indi- eating that each one of said units is to be evenly distributed around the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for showing that a central angle or a circular measure between the rotatable attachment point of each one of said units are to be chosen equal or at least essentially equal.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that each one of said units is to be bendable and dimensioned for solely pronounced tensile strength. There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that as said force-transferring units a wire structure, a steel wire structure, or the like are to advantage to be utilized.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advan- tages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that said wire structure is to exhibit end-related splices for forming end-related loops and with a predetermined definite distance between said loops.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which are required for letting it

be shown that each one of the force-transmitting units can be provided with the same length measures between associated loops.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for let- ting it be shown that said end-related loops should be adapted for supporting each one of an eyelet or a corresponding fastening means for a bearing exhibiting low friction.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that with regard to said loop and/or eyelet, each one is to be adapted to surround a ball bearing or roller bearing or similar bearing which in turn is adapted to cooperate with a pin associated with the eyelet.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be necessary for letting it be shown that the individual ones of said units are in a vertical plane to be side related to each other.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that said units are to be prestressed between said first shaft and said second shaft and there to such degree that each unit, irrespectively of the selected taking up of force, exhibits an extended condition for a tractive transfer, wherein said extension is to fall within the "elastic" area.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be needed for letting it be shown that the shaft driven around a first axis of rotation, the shaft driven around a second axis of rotation, etc, are each adapted, but with the exception that one is to drive a generator, to be driven by a propeller driven by wind.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be necessary for letting it be shown that an additional shaft, a driven shaft, is to be coordinated with a generator for generating electric power.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that a utilized crankshaft is to be able to be produced in a number of individual parts (and not in a single forged part in which slide bearings are required as well as sensitive

lubrication and wherein the dimensions are limited).

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required for letting be shown a crankshaft which will consist of loose shanks and axes which are screwed to- gether.

There is a technical problem in being able to understand the significance of, the advantages related to, and the considerations which will be required for letting it be shown that utilized ball bearings and the like can be drawn over a utilized shaft so as to be able to offer a structure which requires less lubrication and provides a longer length of life.

THE SOLUTION

The present invention takes as its starting point the known technology as indicated by way of introduction and is based on a torque-transmitting arrangement having a first shaft driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation and a second shaft driven to a rotational mo- tion around a second axis of rotation over of a power transferring means, with said power transferring means being eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation and on the other hand with said second axis of rotation over bearing means associated with the end portions of the power transferring means.

In order to solve one or more of the technical problems mentioned above the present invention more specifically indicates that known technology is to be supplemented by letting at least three power transferring units included in said power transferring means be adapted by individual bearing means to be able to cooperate with said first shaft and said second shaft so that each one of said units will be distributed around the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation. In this connection it is suggested that a central angle or a "radian measure" between each one of said units is to be chosen equal or at least substantially equal and that each one of said units is to be dimensioned for pronounced partly distributed stresses.

Specifically it is indicated that said units are to be prestressed between said first shaft and said second shaft to such degree that each unit, irrespective of the chosen taking up of power, exhibits an extended condition for transferring a tractive force and that a wire structure or similar is to be utilized for said force-transferring units.

As proposed embodiments falling within the frame of the basic idea of the present invention it is additionally indicated that a wire structure or similar with end-related splices is to be used for forming end-related loops, wherein said end-related loops are to be adapted and dimen-

sioned so as to be able to support each eyelet or similar.

More specifically it is indicated that for said loop and/or eyelet each one is to be adapted to surround a ball bearing or roller bearing which in turn is adapted to cooperate with a pin associated with an eyelet and attached to the wheel or crankshaft. The individual ones of said units are to be side-related to each other in a vertical plane.

The shaft driven around a first axis of rotation, the shaft driven around a second axis of rotation, etc, are adapted in such manner that each one (except one) is operated by a propeller driven by wind.

In this regard the present invention indicates that an additional driven shaft cooperates with its generator for being driven by means of the propellers and for generating electric power.

The invention indicates that a utilized crankshaft should be able to be produced in a plurality of individual parts (and not in one single forged part in which slide bearings and sensitive lubrication are required and in which the dimensions are limited).

The crankshaft will then consist of "loose" or individual shanks and with the shafts in- tended to be screwed together with the shanks.

Utilized ball bearings and similar can then be drawn over a utilized shaft so as to be able to offer a structure which requires less lubrication and provides a more extended length of life than earlier indicated slide bearing structures.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages that primarily must be considered to be characterizing of the present invention and the thereby indicated specific significative characteristics are that prerequisites have hereby been created for a torque transferring arrangement with a first shaft driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation and a second shaft driven to a second rotational mo- ton around a second axis of rotation and wherein said force transferring means is eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first rotational axis and on the other hand with said second rotational axis by bearing members associated with the end portions of the force transferring means.

The present invention more specifically discloses that at least three force transferring units included in said force transferring means are to be adapted by means of individual bearing members to be able to cooperate with said first shaft and said second shaft, that each one of said units is to be distributed around the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation so that a central point angle or a radian measure between each one of said units will be chosen to be equal and so that each one of said units is dimensioned for being able to take up solely or sub-

stantially distinct partial strains of force.

Furthermore it is indicated that said units are to be prestressed between said first shaft and said second shaft to such extent that each unit, irrespective of the chosen taking up of force, exhibits an extended condition for transferring a tractive force and that a wire structure or the like is to be utilized as said force transferring units.

The subject matter that primarily must be considered to be characterizing of the present invention is disclosed in the characterizing portion of the following claim 1.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Known technology for a torque transferring arrangement and an embodiment presently proposed, exhibiting the significative characteristics associated with the present invention, will now be described more specifically for providing exemplification with reference to the accom- panying drawing in which

Figure 1 shows a lateral view of a simplified, earlier known torque transmitting arrangement with a flexurally rigid bar as a force transferring means alternatively transferring push and pull forces.

Figur 2 shows a perspective view of a force transmitting means created on the basis of the principles of the invention, in this case having three force transferring units adapted for a tractive strain solely or to a substantial extent.

Figure 3 shows a sinus curve so as to illustrate the variation of an applied pulling force which may be expected on one single unit among said units in a pulling function, whereby the remaining two units will be displaced 120° of phase with regard to each other in terms of force. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an eyelet, without a cooperating wire, wherein said eyelet is to surround an eccentric pin with an associated storage member.

Figure 5 shows a tractive force/extension graph applicable to a unit in the form of a wire.

Figure 6 shows a proposed application for the torque transferring arrangement in a floatable wind-power plant in which four propellers are to cooperate with a torque transferring arrangement, not shown, and which arrangement is, as a unit, to drive a generator for generating electric power.

Figure 7 shows a lateral view of an alternative arrangement including a crankshaft and having three attached units.

Figur 8 shows a second lateral view of the alternative arrangement in accordance with Figure 7, and

Figure 9 shows a proposed attachment of the end sections of two wire portions to the shaft portion of a crankshaft.

DESCRIPTION OF KNOWN TECHNOLOGY IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIGURE 1.

Figure 1 now has the purpose of clarifying an earlier known arrangement "A" for torque transmission with a first rotational motion around a first shaft 1 driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation Ia and a second shaft 2 driven over a force transferring means 3 to a rotational motion around a second axis of rotation 2a.

Two runners Ib, (Ic) and 2b, (2c), are coordinated with these shafts 1,2, respectively, for displacement along rail sections 7, 7a.

Said force transferring means 3 are eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation Ia and its wheel Ib and on the other hand with said second axis of rotation 2a and its wheel 2b over bearing members 4, 5 associated with the end portions 3a, 3b of said means 3.

The known technology is based on a flexurally rigid bar 3 which is intended and dimensioned so as to be able to mediate compressive forces as well as tractive forces.

Figure 1 has a purpose of schematically illustrating that a chassis 6 is disposed displace- ably along parallel beam or rail sections 7, 7a.

The distance between the wheels Ib and 2b is normally short in order to facilitate dimensioning the bar 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT It shall by way of introduction be pointed out that in the following description concerning a presently proposed embodiment which exhibits the significant characteristics associated with the invention and being clarified by the figures in the following drawings we have chosen terms and a specific terminology with the purpose of thereby primarily making the concept of the invention become clear. However, in this connection it should be noted that the chosen terminology shall not be considered as being limited to solely the terms utilized and chosen here and it should be understood without saying that each in this manner chosen term is to be construed in such manner that it additionally comprises all technical equivalents which function in the same manner or in substantially the same manner so as to thereby be able to achieve the same or essentially the same

purpose and/or technological results.

With reference to the accompanying Figures 2 to 6 and Figures 7 to 9, not only is the present invention schematically and in detail, but the significant qualities associated with the invention have been concretized by the embodiments now proposed and more specifically de- scribed in the following as alternative solutions.

Thus Figure 2 shows a torque transferring arrangement "A" with a first shaft 1 driven to a rotational motion around a first axis of rotation Ia and a second shaft 2 driven over a force transferring means 3 to a rotational motion around a second axis of rotation 2a, wherein said force transferring means 3 is eccentrically coordinated on the one hand with said first axis of rotation Ia and on the other hand with said second axis of rotation 2a over bearing members 4, 5 alloted to the end portion of the force transferring means.

In accordance with the present invention three different force transferring units 3 A, 3 B and 3C included in said force transferring means 3 are indicated.

Said units 3A, 3B and 3C are in this case shaped identically to each other, and therefore solely unit 3 A will be made the subject of a more specific disclosure.

Unit 3 A is adapted to cooperate with said first shaft 1 and said second shaft 2 by means of individual bearing members 4A, 5 A.

Each one of said units 3A, 3B and 3C is with its attachment points to its wheels IA, 2A; IB, 2B and 1C, 2C or crankshafts distributed around the first axis of rotation Ia and the second axis of rotation 2a.

The indication is given here that a central angle "a" or a radian measure between each one of said units 3 A and 3B, respectively, in an individual wheel or crankshaft IA, IB are selected equal and that each one of said units is dimensioned for pronounced tractive strains

As said force transferring units 3 A, 3B and 3C utilization is made of a wire structure, a steel wire structure.

Said wire structure exhibits end related splices so as to be able to form end related loops (not shown).

However, said end related loops are adapted to be able to support individual eyelets which here are designated 14, 15. Each one of said loops and/or eyelets 14, 15 is adapted to surround a ball bearing or roller bearing 24 which in turn is adapted to cooperate with a pin 25 associated with an eyelet 14, said pin being attached to a wheel IA.

Figure 2 clarifies in its perspective view that the rerspective units are side-related to each other in a vertical plane for a free rotational motion.

According to this invention it is indicated that each one of said units 3 A, 3B and 3C is to be prestressed between said first shaft 1 and said second shaft 2 by means of extensible and shortenable means to such extent that each unit 3 A, 3B and 3C, irrespective of the selected taking up of force, will exhibit an extended condition for transferring a tractive force. Thus at an upper position of a wire section 3A', this section is to exhibit a highest tractive strain "P2" (activated load and initial stress) with a length extension "P falling within the range of "fl" and "f2", whereas at a lower position of a wire section 3C" this section is to exhibit a lower tractive strain "P3" (relieved but with a pretension) having a change of length "f" falling within the range of "fl" and "D". Thus the clamping force will have its correspondence in force "Pl". This may be seen in Figure 5.

With reference to Figure 6 it is there illustrated that shaft 1 which is driven around a first axis of rotation Ia, shaft 2 which is driven around a second axis of rotation 2a with associated wheel etc are adapted to be driven by each one of a wind-driven propeller 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, respectively. An additional driven shaft 10 is coordinated with a generator 11 for generating electric power. Feed-out of this power is not shown.

With reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9, respectively, various views show a crankshaft 20 with its rotatable center shaft 20', with three arms 21, 22, 23 being attached to said crankshaft and with said units 3A, 3B and 3C being attached to connecting points 24, 25 and 25. The utilized crankshaft 20 is to be able to be produced in a plurality of individual parts

(and not in one single forged part where slide bearings are necessary as well as sensitive lubrication and wherein the dimensions are limited).

Thus, a crankshaft 20 will consist of loose shanks 21, 22, 22' and 23 and having shafts 24', 25' and 26' which are screwed together in manner known per se around shaft 20'. Utilized ball bearings 34, 35 and 36 and similar can be threaded over a utilized shaft so as to offer a structure which requires less lubrication and provides a longer length of life.

Figure 9 illustrates that two units 40, 41 (corresponding to units 3B' and a unit adjacent thereto) ar over a bearing cup 42, 43 connected to each other over a ball bearing 34 alloted to crankshaft 20. Within the scope of the invention it is also included that between the first and second shafts there may be positioned an extra crankshaft which then should be adapted as a passive crankshaft to transfer forces that can cause transversal oscillations. Such an extra, passive crankshaft solely transforms torques and thus it should be possible to let them have them have smaller dimensions than the other ones.

The pretension indicated by the invention and illustrated in Figure 5 can then be provided with the help of separate means within a pipe 16 covering the arrangement extending or shortening the distance between the axes Ia, 2a.

As an alternative an intermediate wheel or the like can be raisable and lowerable so as to thereby extend or shorten element 3B' to its chosen pretension. Nothing prevents this intermediate wheel from cooperating with a spring arrangement which in its turn is coordinated with a shock absorber arrangement.

No such intermediate wheel is more specifically described in the description nor a spring arrangment with or without a shock absorbing arrangement, as such means are well known within their technical field.

With regard to the pulling force it should be noted between the changes in length " ^β " and "fl" of the wire section 3C" that on the one hand it can be chosen lower than the change of length "β" shown in Figure 5 and that the tractive strain "P3" in structures with shorter wires alternatively can be chosen larger than the change of length "fl " shown in Figure 5 and the trac- tive strain "P 1 " with longer wire structures.

The tractive force and change of length are to be adapted to the selected structure and have the purpose of reducing and eliminating entirely the tendency of self-oscillations of the wire structure and its wire section 3C" at a selected low number of revolutions.

The invention is naturally not limited to the embodiment disclosed above as an example and can be subjected to modifications within the frame of the inventive concept illustrated in the following claims.

It should particularly be noted that each illustrated unit and/or circuit can be combined with every one of the other illustrated units and/or circuits within the frame of being able to achieve the desired technical function.