Flexible unit and flexible member

Abstract

According to the flexible unit and the flexible component, the elastic piece and the connecting piece are arranged between the two adjacent structural pieces, the distance is formed between the two adjacent structural pieces, and when relative displacement is generated between the two adjacent structural pieces or external acting force is applied to the two adjacent structural pieces, the elastic piece and the connecting piece are separated from each other. The elastic piece and the connecting piece can generate elastic deformation preferentially so as to absorb, release or buffer external force, and therefore stress concentration is reduced. On the basis of keeping mutual connection of two adjacent structural parts, the elastic transition capacity, the displacement compensation capacity and the buffer pressure relief capacity are achieved between the two adjacent structural parts, then the deformation capacity of the whole component is improved, the situations of fracture, cracking, fatigue failure and the like caused by stress concentration at the deformation position are avoided, and the use stability and reliability of the whole component are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of flexible unit technology, and in particular to a flexible unit and a flexible component. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing process of existing structural components, metal materials are often used to form integral components. Metal materials generally have high strength, hardness, and load-bearing capacity, and are therefore widely used in mechanical connectors, supports, force transmission components, and other fields with high requirements for structural stability and service life.

[0003] However, in practical applications, some structural components not only need to possess certain strength and load-bearing capacity, but also need to withstand significant bending deformation or repeated bending during use. For such structures, although metallic materials can provide good overall strength, their inherent rigidity and limited elastic range make them prone to significant stress concentration at the bending points during large-angle bending. Especially when the bending radius is small, the bending angle is large, or repeated bending is required, the bending area is more likely to experience excessive local strain, leading to problems such as cracking, fracture, plastic deformation, or fatigue failure. This makes it difficult to meet the application requirements that demand both high load-bearing capacity and large bending deformation capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a flexible unit and flexible component to address the above problems and solve the problem of weak bending deformation capacity of structural components.

[0005] On the one hand, a flexible unit is proposed, the flexible unit comprising: Elastic components; Connectors; At least two structural members, two adjacent structural members being connected by the elastic member and the connector, such that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members.

[0006] In at least one embodiment of this application, the flexible unit further includes: A limiting member, which cooperates with the connecting member to limit the displacement and deformation of the connecting member and / or the elastic member.

[0007] In at least one embodiment of this application, the elastic member has a fixing portion and a connecting portion; A connector is fixedly connected at one end to the connecting part, and one end of the fixing part of the elastic member is fixed to one of the structural members. The end of the connector away from the elastic member is fixed to the other structural member, so that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members.

[0008] In at least one embodiment of this application, each of the structural members is provided with the connecting member, and the two ends of the elastic member are respectively connected to two adjacent connecting members so that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members.

[0009] In at least one embodiment of this application, the elastic element is a conforming geometry with nonlinear stiffness.

[0010] In at least one embodiment of this application, the elastic element is one of the following: bow-shaped, S-shaped, bent, arc-shaped, elliptical, or rhomboid.

[0011] In at least one embodiment of this application, the displacement of the connector is denoted as a, and the yield limit displacement of the elastic element is denoted as b, satisfying the relationship: an < b, where n is the safety factor, 1.5 ≤ n ≤ 2.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of this application, the limiting member is disposed on the structural member and located between the connecting member and the structural member.

[0013] In at least one embodiment of this application, two adjacent structural members are connected by multiple sets of connectors and elastic members.

[0014] A flexible component comprising: at least one flexible unit as described above, the flexible component being integrally molded.

[0015] The flexible unit and flexible component implemented in this embodiment will have at least the following beneficial effects: The flexible unit and flexible component provided above, by placing the elastic element and the connecting element between two adjacent structural components and forming a gap between the two adjacent structural components, when the two adjacent structural components are subjected to relative displacement or external force, the elastic element and the connecting element can preferentially undergo elastic deformation to absorb, release or buffer the external force, thereby reducing stress concentration.

[0016] While maintaining the interconnection between two adjacent structural components, it enables elastic transition, displacement compensation, and buffering and pressure relief capabilities between them, thereby improving the overall deformation capacity of the component and preventing fractures, cracks, fatigue failures, etc. caused by stress concentration at the deformation location, thus improving the overall stability and reliability of the component. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] in: Figure 1 A perspective view of the flexible unit in one embodiment; Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a flexible component in one embodiment; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Another structural diagram of the flexible component; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view at point AA; Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the flexible component in another embodiment; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the flexible unit (the elastic element is an elliptical structure) in another embodiment; Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the flexible unit (the elastic element is an S-shaped structure) in another embodiment; Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional view of a flexible unit (the elastic element is a bent structure).

[0019] Explanation of main component symbols 100. Flexible unit; 110. Elastic element; 111. Fixing part; 112. Connecting part; 120. Connecting parts; 130. Limiting components; 140. Flexible components; 141. Structural components. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] In one specific embodiment, a flexible unit 100 is applied to a flexible component 140 formed by additive manufacturing. The elastic element 110 and the connector 120 are disposed between two adjacent structural components 141, which can form a connection area (spacing) with elastic deformation capability between the two adjacent structural components 141.

[0022] By placing the elastic element 110 and the connecting element 120 between two adjacent structural elements 141 and creating a gap between the two adjacent structural elements 141, when relative displacement occurs between the two adjacent structural elements 141 or when subjected to external force, the elastic element 110 and the connecting element 120 can preferentially undergo elastic deformation to absorb, release or buffer the external force, thereby reducing stress concentration.

[0023] Specifically, the elastic element 110 is provided as the main part of the flexible unit 100 that generates elastic deformation. The fixing part 111 of the elastic element 110 is fixedly connected to the structural member 141, and the connecting part 112 of the elastic element 110 is fixedly connected to the connecting member 120, thereby forming a stable connection relationship between the elastic element 110 and the connecting member 120.

[0024] One end of the connector 120 is connected to the connecting portion 112 of the elastic member 110, and the other end of the connector 120 is connected to another adjacent structural member 141, so that the elastic member 110 and the connector 120 are straddling between two adjacent structural members 141, and the two adjacent structural members 141 are kept at a distance.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 , 2 In this embodiment, by providing the fixing part 111 on one of the structural members 141, the elastic member 110 can have a clear and stable support structure when subjected to force, thereby enabling the elastic member 110 to deform around a predetermined area under the action of external force, avoiding deformation disorder caused by unclear support position. By fixing one end of the connecting member 120 to the connecting part 112 and providing the other end of the connecting member 120 on another adjacent structural member 141, the deformation of the elastic member 110 can be effectively transmitted to the other structural member 141, forming a transitional connection between the two adjacent structural members 141 that is not a direct rigid connection.

[0026] When relative displacement occurs between two adjacent structural members 141 or when they are subjected to external forces, the elastic member 110 and the connecting member 120 can preferentially undergo elastic deformation to absorb, release or buffer the external forces, thereby reducing stress concentration.

[0027] By providing an elastic member 110 with a fixing part 111 and a connecting part 112, and fixing one end of the connecting member 120 to the connecting part 112, and then connecting the fixing part 111 to one of the structural members 141 and the connecting member 120 to the other adjacent structural member 141, a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members 141.

[0028] While maintaining the interconnection between two adjacent structural components 141, it enables the two to have elastic transition, displacement compensation and buffer pressure relief capabilities, thereby improving the deformation capacity of the entire component and avoiding problems such as stress concentration, insufficient flexibility and easy structural failure that are prone to occur during deformation, thus improving the overall stability and reliability of the component.

[0029] Secondly, when the external force disappears, under the elastic force of the elastic element 110 and the connecting element 120, the elastic element 110 and the connecting element 120 return to their original state, so that the two adjacent structural elements 141 return to their original state, and there is a gap between the two adjacent structural elements 141.

[0030] In at least one embodiment of this application, each of the structural members 141 is provided with the connecting member 120, and the two ends of the elastic member 110 are respectively connected to two adjacent connecting members 120, so that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members 141.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 8 In this embodiment, the connector 120 is arched and protrudes from the plane of the structural member 141 to form an arched structure. The two ends of the elastic member 110 are fixedly connected to the two connectors 120 on the two structural members 141 respectively, so that there is a gap between the two adjacent structural members. While maintaining the connection between the two adjacent structural members 141, the two have elastic transition, displacement compensation and buffer pressure relief capabilities, thereby improving the deformation capability of the entire component and avoiding the problems of stress concentration, insufficient flexibility and easy failure of the structure that are prone to occur during deformation, thus improving the overall stability and reliability of the component.

[0032] In at least one embodiment of this application, the flexible unit 100 further includes: The limiting member 130 cooperates with the connecting member 120 to limit the displacement and deformation of the connecting member 120 and / or the elastic member 110.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 4In this embodiment, when the flexible unit 100 is in its initial state or not subjected to external force, the limiting member 130 does not directly contact the connecting member 120 and the elastic member 110. Instead, a certain space distance is reserved between the limiting member 130 and the connecting member 120, and between the limiting member 130 and the elastic member 110. This spacing allows the connecting member 120 and the elastic member 110 to undergo a certain degree of elastic deformation within their normal operating range, without being blocked by the limiting member 130 at the beginning of deformation, thereby ensuring that the flexible unit 100 has basic elastic deformation capability.

[0034] After an external force is applied to the flexible unit 100, the connector 120 and the elastic member 110 can first undergo elastic deformation within the range corresponding to the spacing to achieve functions such as buffering, repositioning, pressure relief, or displacement compensation. When the displacement of the connector 120 and the elastic member 110 gradually increases and approaches the boundary of the spacing, the limiting member 130 begins to contact the connector 120 and the elastic member 110, thereby restricting their continued movement.

[0035] The limiting part is arranged correspondingly along the deformation path of the elastic part, and is at least partially located within the displacement envelope of the elastic part or at the edge of the displacement envelope, so that the elastic part maintains a preset distance from the limiting part in the initial state, and gradually moves closer to the limiting part during the deformation process.

[0036] The limiting part forms a nested arrangement with the elastic part in a surrounding, close, or corresponding manner in terms of spatial position, so that the deformation range of the elastic part is limited to a pre-designed spatial range.

[0037] The spatial nesting relationship allows the elastic part to undergo elastic deformation within the space reserved by the limiting part within the normal force range, thereby achieving buffering, relocation, rebound, or displacement compensation; when the deformation of the elastic part continues to increase and approaches the preset limit position, the elastic part will come into contact with the limiting part, and the limiting part will thus block the tendency of the elastic part to continue to deform.

[0038] The limiting part constitutes the physical boundary of the elastic part, and the maximum displacement range, maximum bending degree or maximum compression stroke of the elastic part are directly limited by the limiting part.

[0039] The limiting part exerts a forced physical constraint on the strain threshold of the elastic part, directly constraining the maximum strain level of the elastic part through contact stops between the solid structures.

[0040] Before the elastic part reaches the preset strain threshold, the elastic part can maintain a normal elastic working state; when the deformation of the elastic part continues to increase and the corresponding part contacts the limiting part, the limiting part will force the elastic part to stop deforming in the dangerous direction, thereby limiting the actual strain of the elastic part to a predetermined safe range.

[0041] If the elastic part relies solely on the elastic limit of its own material to withstand external loads, it is prone to plastic deformation, crack propagation, or even fracture failure under heavy loads, impact loads, or abnormal operating conditions due to excessive local strain. However, by setting the limiting part, which forms a spatial nesting relationship with the elastic part, structural contact can be used to limit its continued deformation before it reaches the dangerous strain range, thereby controlling the working state of the elastic part within the safe strain threshold.

[0042] By utilizing the spatial nesting relationship between the limiting part and the elastic part, the maximum deformation and maximum strain of the elastic part can be preset and limited, so that the elastic part maintains good flexibility under normal working conditions, and can obtain forced physical protection through the limiting part under extreme working conditions, thereby effectively reducing the risk of excessive deformation, stress concentration and structural failure, and improving the mechanical stability and reliability of the flexible unit 100.

[0043] In one embodiment, there is a gap between the limiting member 130 and the connecting member 120. When the flexible unit 100 is in the initial state, the limiting member 130 and the connecting member 120 do not directly contact each other, but a certain space distance is reserved between them in advance.

[0044] When the flexible unit 100 is subjected to an external load, the connector 120 can first undergo a corresponding displacement with the deformation of the elastic member 110, and complete normal buffering, clearance or displacement compensation actions within the distance range between the limiting member 130 and the connector 120.

[0045] As the external load continues to increase, and the displacement of the connector 120 gradually approaches the limit range of the spacing, the connector 120 will gradually move closer to the limiting member 130 and contact the limiting member 130 after reaching the preset boundary. At this time, the limiting member 130 begins to act as a stop for the connector 120 to prevent the connector 120 from continuing to deform excessively along the bending direction.

[0046] The connector 120 can be displaced and force transmitted normally within a preset stroke, avoiding premature interference of the limiting member 130 with its normal operation. At the same time, when the displacement is too large, the limiting member 130 can physically restrict the connector 120, thereby taking into account both the flexible deformation requirements and the excessive displacement protection requirements, and improving the use stability and structural reliability of the flexible unit 100.

[0047] In another embodiment, there is a gap between the limiting member 130 and the elastic member 110. When the flexible unit 100 is in the initial state or is not subjected to external force, the limiting member 130 and the elastic member 110 do not directly contact each other, but a certain space distance is reserved between them in advance.

[0048] When the flexible unit 100 is subjected to tension, compression, bending, vibration or other external forces, the elastic element 110 can preferentially absorb, buffer or release the external forces through its own deformation. During this process, the limiting element 130 does not immediately intervene, thereby ensuring that the elastic element 110 can normally play the roles of flexible transition, displacement compensation and buffering pressure relief.

[0049] As the external load continues to increase, the deformation of the elastic element 110 gradually increases and approaches the preset limit. The elastic element 110 will then gradually approach the limiting element 130 and, upon reaching the boundary of the distance, come into contact with the limiting element 130. At this point, the limiting element 130 begins to physically stop the elastic element 110, preventing it from continuing to deform excessively along the dangerous direction.

[0050] This allows the elastic element 110 to maintain good elastic response within a preset stroke, preventing the limiting element 130 from interfering with the normal operation of the elastic element 110 prematurely. At the same time, when the displacement of the elastic element 110 is too large, the limiting element 130 can provide stop protection, thereby effectively reducing the risk of excessive deformation and structural failure of the elastic element 110 and improving the mechanical stability and reliability of the flexible unit 100.

[0051] In at least one embodiment of this application, the elastic element 110 is a conforming geometry with nonlinear stiffness.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 2 In this embodiment, the nonlinear stiffness conforming geometry means that the stiffness of the elastic element 110 does not remain constant during the deformation process, but changes in stages as the deformation increases.

[0053] In the initial stage of external force application, the elastic element 110 can exhibit relatively low initial stiffness, making it easier to generate an elastic response. As the deformation increases further, the overall stress state, geometric configuration, and deformation path of the elastic element 110 change, and its stiffness increases accordingly, thereby enabling the elastic element 110 to exert a stronger resistance to continued deformation in subsequent stages.

[0054] Adaptive geometry relies on the geometric contour, bending path, transition surface or local deformation zone of the elastic element 110 to perform adaptive deformation, thereby achieving displacement compensation, flexible transition or elastic buffering while maintaining the continuity of the overall structure.

[0055] In this embodiment, the elastic element 110 is configured as a compliant geometry with nonlinear stiffness, and the mechanical response of the elastic element 110 at different deformation stages is actively controlled through geometric design.

[0056] When the flexible unit 100 is first subjected to force, the elastic element 110 can easily generate elastic displacement by relying on the deformable path formed by conforming to the geometric structure, thereby preferentially absorbing the external load caused by assembly errors, local impacts, bending requirements or relative displacement between two adjacent structural elements 141, so that the structure has better flexible transition capability and initial buffer capability.

[0057] As the external load continues to increase, the geometry of the elastic element 110 gradually changes, and its force direction, bending radius, local support state, or effective force-bearing length also change accordingly, thereby gradually increasing its stiffness. The elastic element 110 will not remain too soft during the large displacement stage, but will be able to provide stronger resistance to deformation when the deformation is large, preventing further uncontrolled deformation.

[0058] In this embodiment, by setting the elastic element 110 as a compliant geometry with non-linear stiffness, the elastic element 110 can rely on the compliant deformation path formed by its own geometry to provide good flexibility in the early stage of stress, and gradually improve its resistance to deformation as the deformation increases.

[0059] It can effectively solve the problem that it is difficult to simultaneously take into account the initial deformability and the later instability resistance in existing additive manufacturing flexible structures, reduce the risk of local stress concentration and structural failure, and avoid the defects of complex assembly, easy wear and insufficient reliability caused by traditional multi-part moving mechanisms, thereby improving the elastic adjustment capability, mechanical stability and overall service life of the flexible unit 100.

[0060] In at least one embodiment of this application, the elastic element 110 is one of the following: bow-shaped, S-shaped, bent, arc-shaped, elliptical, or rhomboid.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figures 6-8 In this embodiment, the elastic member 110 is configured as an elastic deformation structure with a predetermined bending profile. The bow shape is a curved shape that arches to one side, so that the elastic member 110 can rebound and move along the arch path when subjected to force.

[0062] The S-shape is a continuous curve shape with at least two reverse bending segments along the length direction, which allows the elastic element 110 to disperse deformation through multiple bending regions during the stress process.

[0063] The bent shape is a linear bending structure with at least one bending part, which allows the elastic element 110 to elastically deflect around the bending position under the action of external force.

[0064] The arc shape is a structural form with an overall arc or a near-arc transition, which makes the elastic element 110 have a relatively gentle bending response when subjected to force.

[0065] By setting the elastic element 110 to any of the above-described forms, the elastic element 110 can form a flexible connection region with a predetermined deformation path between two adjacent structural members 141. The shape of the elastic element 110 includes, but is not limited to, the above-described shapes.

[0066] By configuring the elastic element 110 as one or more combinations of arc, S, bend, curve, ellipse, or rhombus, the elastic element 110 itself possesses a preset geometric compliance path. This gives the elastic element 110 a clear geometric compliance path and a predetermined deformation profile, enabling it to more effectively disperse local stress, guide elastic deformation, and improve displacement compensation capability when subjected to force.

[0067] It can effectively improve the problems of excessive stiffness, obvious stress concentration and insufficient flexibility caused by the use of linear or rigid transition structures in existing additive manufacturing connection structures. At the same time, it can improve the deformation controllability, mechanical stability and overall reliability of the flexible unit 100 without relying on simply changing the material.

[0068] In at least one embodiment of this application, the displacement of the connector 120 is denoted as a, and the yield limit displacement of the elastic member 110 is denoted as b, satisfying the relationship: an < b, where n is the safety factor, 1.5 ≤ n ≤ 2.

[0069] Please refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, the displacement a of the connector 120 is the space distance reserved in the initial state, which corresponds to the allowable stroke of the flexible unit 100 under normal stress.

[0070] The yield limit displacement b is the limit displacement that the elastic member 110 can reach when it can still maintain its elastic recovery ability under the combined effect of material properties and structural morphology and has not yet entered the yield failure state.

[0071] The yield limit displacement *b* reflects the maximum safe displacement capacity that the elastic element 110 can withstand before reaching a dangerous state, while the displacement *a* of the connecting element determines when the limiting element 130 begins to stop the connecting element 120 and / or the elastic element 110. When the above relationship is satisfied between *a* and *b*, the stopping boundary of the limiting element 130 is reserved and calibrated around the ultimate bearing capacity of the elastic element 110, so that the limiting element 130 can intervene in time when the elastic element 110 approaches the dangerous deformation range, thereby preventing the actual working displacement of the elastic element 110 from uncontrollably approaching or even exceeding the yield boundary.

[0072] The load borne by the elastic component 110 during actual operation is not always under ideal static conditions. It may be affected by various factors such as assembly errors, manufacturing errors, material dispersion, instantaneous impact loads, periodic alternating loads, and environmental changes. If the rigid design is based solely on the theoretical yield limit displacement b without providing sufficient safety margin, the elastic component 110 may still be damaged due to local stress concentration or instantaneous overload in actual working conditions. Therefore, by setting a safety factor n, a certain amount of redundancy can be reserved for the structural design, so that the determination of the displacement a of the connecting component 120 not only considers the theoretical limit but also takes into account the uncertainties in actual use.

[0073] When n is too small, it means that the safety margin is insufficient and the limit protection may be too late when the elastic element 110 is close to the yield boundary; when n is too large, it means that the displacement a of the connecting element 120 is compressed too much, which may cause the limit element 130 to stop too early, thus affecting the normal deformation of the elastic element 110.

[0074] By establishing a correspondence between the displacement a of the connector 120 and the yield limit displacement b of the elastic member 110, satisfying an < b, and controlling the safety factor n between 1.5 and 2, the intervention position of the limiting member 130 is matched with the maximum safe working displacement of the elastic member 110.

[0075] It can effectively improve the problem that the setting of limiting boundaries in existing flexible structures lacks quantitative basis, and either provides insufficient protection or excessive restriction. It enables the flexible unit 100 to maintain sufficient elastic activity under normal working conditions, and to obtain limiting protection before approaching the dangerous strain range under extreme working conditions. This prevents the elastic element 110 from the risk of yielding failure, plastic deformation and fatigue damage, and improves the stress controllability, reliability and overall service life of the flexible unit 100.

[0076] In at least one embodiment of this application, the limiting member 130 is disposed on the structural member 141 and is located between the connecting member 120 and the structural member 141.

[0077] Please refer to Figures 1-4 In this embodiment, one end of the connector 120 is fixedly connected to the connecting portion 112 of the elastic member 110, and the other end is connected to the adjacent structural member 141. Therefore, the connector 120 is in a transitional connection position between the elastic member 110 and the structural member 141, and the limiting member 130 is disposed on the path of the connector 120 toward the structural member 141.

[0078] By setting the limiting member 130 on the side of the connector 120 close to the structural member 141, and located between the connector 120 and the structural member 141 (the structural member 141 connected by the fixing part 111, in other embodiments can be set on an adjacent structural member 141, and the limiting member 130 needs to be set between the connector 120 and the structural member 141), the limiting member 130 can be arranged along the critical path of the connector 120 approaching the limit displacement, and form a timely stop when the displacement of the connector 120 is too large.

[0079] It can effectively improve the problems of unreasonable limiting position, untimely limiting intervention or premature interference with normal elastic action in existing flexible structures, so that the connector 120 can maintain good displacement transmission and flexibility under normal working conditions, and can achieve effective protection with the help of the stable support of the limiting component 130 and the structural component 141 under extreme working conditions, thereby improving the force controllability, structural stability and overall reliability of the flexible unit 100.

[0080] It should be noted that the limiting member 130 is roughly a "rectangular" structure, but in other embodiments it can be an "L" shaped structure, including but not limited to the structure described above.

[0081] In at least one embodiment of this application, one end of the connector 120 is fixed to the connector 112, and the other end extends toward another structural member 141.

[0082] Please refer to Figures 1-4 In this embodiment, the connector 120 is formed by continuously extending the connector 112 towards another structural member 141, with the connector 112 as the connection starting position.

[0083] One end of the connector 120 is fixedly connected to the connecting portion 112, while the other end of the connector 120 extends outward in a direction away from the connecting portion 112 to further establish a connection with the adjacent structural member 141.

[0084] The connector 120 can form a clear connection and extension path between the elastic member 110 and the adjacent structural member 141, so that the flexible unit 100 as a whole constitutes a structural relationship that gradually transitions from the elastic member 110 to the connector 120 and then to the adjacent structural member 141.

[0085] From the perspective of force and operation, when two adjacent structural members 141 are subjected to tension, compression, bending, or vibration, the elastic member 110 first undergoes corresponding elastic deformation, and then this deformation is transmitted to the connector 120 through the connecting part 112. Since the connector 120 is formed by extending outward from the connecting part 112, the connector 120 can receive the deformation from the connecting part 112 in a predetermined direction.

[0086] By configuring the connector 120 such that one end is fixed to the connecting portion 112 and the other end extends away from the connecting portion 112, the connector 120 forms a clear structural extension direction and load transfer path in the flexible unit 100.

[0087] It effectively improves the problems of unclear connection path, sudden local stress, unstable displacement transmission and easy damage in the connection area in the existing flexible connection structure, making the transition connection between the elastic element 110 and the adjacent structural element 141 smoother and more reliable. At the same time, it is also conducive to integrated molding and overall structural optimization under additive manufacturing conditions, thereby improving the stress stability, connection reliability and overall service life of the flexible unit 100.

[0088] It should be noted that the connector 120 is roughly U-shaped, but in other embodiments it can be L-shaped or trapezoidal, including but not limited to the above shapes.

[0089] In at least one embodiment of this application, the fixing part 111 is located at the end of the elastic member 110, the connecting part 112 is located between the two fixing parts 111, and there is a gap between the connecting part 112 and the structural member 141.

[0090] Please refer to Figures 1-4 In this embodiment, the connecting portion 112 is located between the two fixing portions 111, and there is a gap between the connecting portion 112 and the structural member 141. The elastic member 110 is not directly connected to the structural member 141 as a whole, but is only connected to the structural member 141 at the corresponding position through the two fixing portions 111 located at the ends, thereby forming a relatively independent elastic movable part in the middle region of the elastic member 110.

[0091] The connecting part 112 is located in the middle or intermediate transition area of ​​the elastic member 110, and is used to establish a connection with the connecting member 120, and serves as the part where the deformation of the elastic member 110 is transmitted outward.

[0092] Furthermore, there is a gap between the connecting part 112 and the structural member 141, so that the connecting part 112 can be displaced relative to the structural member 141 during the process of being subjected to force.

[0093] By setting the fixing part 111 at the end of the elastic member 110, setting the connecting part 112 between the two fixing parts 111, and making a gap between the connecting part 112 and the structural member 141, the elastic member 110 forms a structure with two ends supported, a middle deformation, and a movable connecting part 112.

[0094] This invention addresses the issues of unclear deformation regions, easy interference at the connection points, significant stress concentration, and insufficient flexible movement space in existing additive manufacturing flexible structures. It enables the elastic element 110 to obtain more sufficient elastic deformation margin while maintaining a stable connection foundation, thereby improving the displacement compensation capability, stress stability, and overall reliability of the flexible unit 100.

[0095] In at least one embodiment of this application, two adjacent structural members 141 are connected by multiple sets of connectors 120 and elastic members 110.

[0096] In this embodiment, multiple sets of connectors 120 and elastic members 110 are used to form a connection between two adjacent structural members 141, so that the multiple sets of connectors 120 and elastic members 110 work together between the two structural members 141, thereby improving the deformation capacity and elastic recovery force between the two structural members 141.

[0097] A flexible component 140 includes at least one flexible unit 100 as described above, and the flexible component 140 is integrally formed.

[0098] In this embodiment, the flexible component 140 is formed by stacking the flexible unit 100 and the at least two structural components 141 layer by layer and integrally constructing them in the same printing process using an additive manufacturing device based on a preset three-dimensional model.

[0099] In another embodiment, it can be manufactured by injection molding, casting or other methods.

[0100] The flexible unit 100 and the structural component 141 form an integral structural relationship after manufacturing, without the need to install additional independent elastic connectors 120, limiting components 130 or intermediate transition components after molding.

[0101] Since there is no post-assembly between the flexible unit 100 and each structural component 141, the problems of interface loosening, part falling off or connection offset that occur in traditional assembled structures are not likely to occur during repeated stress, cyclic deformation or long-term use of the components.

[0102] Since the flexible unit 100 is directly disposed between two adjacent structural members 141, it can more directly undertake the functions of displacement compensation, buffering and pressure relief and flexible transition between adjacent structural members 141 during operation, so that the entire flexible component 140 has better flexibility while maintaining overall connection stability.

[0103] Please refer to Figure 5 In this embodiment, the flexible member 140 is an integral structure composed of multiple structural members 141 and multiple flexible units 100. The multiple structural members 141 can be distributed sequentially along the length direction, width direction or predetermined arrangement direction of the flexible member 140, while the multiple flexible units 100 are respectively disposed between two adjacent structural members 141, so that each adjacent structural member 141 has a corresponding flexible connection area.

[0104] Multiple flexible units 100 are mirror-image, balanced, or axisymmetrically related to the centerline, center plane, center region, or a reference structure of the flexible component 140 in terms of position, quantity, spacing, and / or arrangement.

[0105] The symmetrical arrangement can be that the same number of flexible units 100 are set on the left and right sides of the flexible component 140 respectively, and the flexible units 100 on both sides of the central axis are basically the same in terms of structural form and arrangement spacing.

[0106] Multiple flexible units 100 are evenly distributed in the overall component, so that the flexible component 140 has a relatively consistent flexible response capability in different corresponding areas.

[0107] During the modeling stage, the positions, quantities, and spacing of multiple flexible units 100 can be arranged in pairs around the centerline or center plane of the flexible component 140, so that they form a regular and balanced correspondence with multiple structural components 141, and are formed synchronously during the printing process.

[0108] By having multiple flexible units 100 and multiple structural members 141, and by providing at least one flexible unit 100 between each two adjacent structural members 141, and by symmetrically arranging multiple flexible units 100, the flexible member 140 forms a multi-regional, balanced flexible connection structure.

[0109] This allows the flexible component 140 to maintain the overall structural integrity and load-bearing capacity while further improving its stress balance, displacement coordination, and overall stability in use.

[0110] In another embodiment, based on the overall structural form, force path, local load distribution, and target deformation requirements of the flexible member 140, multiple flexible units 100 are arranged between multiple adjacent structural members 141. The multiple structural members 141 can be sequentially distributed along the extension direction, turning direction, circumferential direction, or other predetermined direction of the flexible member 140, while the multiple flexible units 100 are respectively disposed between two adjacent structural members 141, so that a corresponding flexible transition region is formed between each adjacent structural member 141.

[0111] The asymmetrical arrangement of the multiple flexible units 100 means that the multiple flexible units 100 are not arranged in a balanced manner with respect to the central axis, central plane or a certain reference area of ​​the flexible component 140 in terms of position, quantity, spacing, distribution density and / or arrangement, but are arranged differently around the actual force and functional requirements.

[0112] By asymmetrically arranging multiple flexible units 100, the flexible distribution inside the flexible member 140 can better conform to the actual stress characteristics.

[0113] When certain areas of the flexible component 140 are expected to withstand greater external forces, more frequent displacement changes, or more complex deformations, more flexible units 100 can be set between adjacent structural components 141 corresponding to these areas, or the flexible units 100 can be arranged more densely.

[0114] In other areas where the main function is to support, install, or maintain overall rigidity, the number of flexible units 100 can be reduced.

[0115] By having multiple flexible units 100 and multiple structural members 141, and by providing at least one flexible unit 100 between each two adjacent structural members 141, while simultaneously asymmetrically arranging multiple flexible units 100, the flexible member 140 forms a differentiated flexible connection structure that matches the actual stress requirements.

[0116] This enables the flexible component 140 to maintain the overall structural integrity and load-bearing capacity while further enhancing its local adaptability, stress adjustment capability, and engineering application flexibility.

[0117] For example: Please refer to Figure 5 During modeling, the 33mm area in the middle of the hollow plate is evenly divided into each structural component 141 with a width of 3mm. Each structural component 141 is removed inward by 0.1mm and then symmetrically divided into 1 / 4 blocks. Flexible units 100 are set between adjacent structural components 141 to merge into a whole flexible component 140.

[0118] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0119] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A flexible unit, characterized in that, The flexible unit includes: Elastic components; Connectors; At least two structural members, two adjacent structural members being connected by the elastic member and the connector, such that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members.

2. The flexible unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible unit further includes: A limiting member, which cooperates with the connecting member to limit the displacement and deformation of the connecting member and / or the elastic member.

3. The flexible unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element has a fixing part and a connecting part; A connector is fixedly connected at one end to the connecting portion of the elastic member. One end of the fixing portion of the elastic member is fixed to one of the structural members, and the end of the connector away from the elastic member is fixed to the other structural member, so that a gap is formed between the two adjacent structural members.

4. The flexible unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the structural components is provided with a connector, and the two ends of the elastic element are respectively connected to two adjacent connectors to form a gap between the two adjacent structural components.

5. The flexible unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element is a compliant geometry with nonlinear stiffness.

6. The flexible unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic element is one of the following shapes: bow-shaped, S-shaped, bent, arc-shaped, elliptical, or rhomboid.

7. The flexible unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The displacement of the connector is denoted as a, and the yield limit displacement of the elastic element is denoted as b, satisfying the relationship: an < b, where n is the safety factor, 1.5 ≤ n ≤ 2.

8. The flexible unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting member is provided on the structural member and is located between the connecting member and the structural member.

9. The flexible unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, Two adjacent structural members are connected by multiple sets of connectors and elastic members.

10. A flexible component, characterized in that, The flexible component includes at least one flexible unit as described in claims 1-8, and the flexible component is integrally molded.

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