Asymmetric Guide Ring Structure for Impact-Resistant Fishing Rod Guides

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fishing line guides face issues with impact resistance and wear, as ceramic guide rings are prone to breakage under impact and metal guide rings wear easily due to friction.

Innovation Solution

A guide ring with a thicker rear portion and thinner front portion, made of a Co—Ni base alloy with a surface treatment of chromium carbide, titanium carbide, or vanadium carbide, is designed to withstand impacts and reduce wear, and is curved for stable mounting and reduced stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a ceramic guide ring is used, then wear resistance is improved, but impact resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ring employs different materials for different regions: the front portion (contact area) is made of ceramic for wear resistance, while the rear portion (impact area) is made of metal for impact resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide ring is constructed as a composite structure combining ceramic and metal materials. The ceramic front portion provides wear resistance while the metal rear portion provides impact resistance, achieving both properties simultaneously through material composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a metal guide ring is used, then impact resistance is improved, but wear resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ring employs different materials for different regions: the front portion (contact area) is made of ceramic for wear resistance, while the rear portion (impact area) is made of metal for impact resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide ring is constructed as a composite structure combining ceramic and metal materials. The ceramic front portion provides wear resistance while the metal rear portion provides impact resistance, achieving both properties simultaneously through material composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the guide ring is made uniformly thick, then manufacturing is simplified, but impact resistance at the rear portion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ring has different thicknesses in different regions: the rear portion is made thicker to withstand impact forces, while the front portion is thinner. This local thickness variation optimizes impact resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide ring employs an asymmetric thickness distribution, with the rear portion being thicker than the front portion. This asymmetric design matches the functional requirements where the rear portion needs greater impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The guide ring provides high impact resistance and reduced wear, preventing breakage and wear, while the surface treatment enhances durability and resistance to rust.

Implementation Method 1

Metal guide rings, however, have a lower hardness than ceramic guide rings and thus are prone to wear easily due to friction against the fishing line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the fishing line reeled out in casting applies a large impact to the guide ring... the rear portion of the guide ring tends to be subjected to a large impact in casting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS10897884B2Fishing line guide, fishing rod having the fishing line guide, and guide ring for use in the fishing line guide

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 DAIWA SEIKO CORPORATION

AI summary

One object of the present invention is to provide a guide ring less prone to break due to an impact or wear. A fishing line guide according to one aspect of the present invention is to be used on a fishing rod and includes a guide body with a through hole formed therein and a guide ring fitted into the through hole of the guide body. The guide ring has a top portion that is most distant from the fishing rod in a vertical direction extending vertically with respect to an axial direction of the fishing rod, and the guide ring is configured such that a thickness of a guide rear portion on a rear side relative to the top portion is larger than that of a guide front portion on a front side relative to the top portion.