Awning Roller Support with Friction-Reducing Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
High static friction between the awning fabric roll and the support surface leads to high forces required for winding and unwinding, causing uneven winding and potential adhesion issues, especially with PVC-coated fabrics at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A support device with friction-reducing inserts or pads, such as brushes or felt, integrated into the support surface to reduce static friction, allowing for lower forces and even winding, and featuring a concave shape to match the curvature of the winding bale and extend over the entire length of the winding shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a support surface is used to support the awning fabric roll, then the roll is supported stably, but high static friction causes high forces required for winding and unwinding
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into different zones with different friction characteristics. The central region has low friction for easy winding/unwinding, while the peripheral regions provide stable support. This local differentiation allows the surface to simultaneously provide stability and reduce winding resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coefficient of the support surface is changed by applying a friction-reducing coating or using a specific material composition. This parameter change reduces the static friction force between the support surface and the awning fabric roll, thereby reducing the force required for winding and unwinding operations.
2Productivity
If high forces are applied to overcome static friction, then winding can proceed, but the fabric is not wound up evenly due to punctiform adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface provides distributed support across the entire width of the awning fabric roll through its extended structure. This uniform distribution of support force prevents localized adhesion points and ensures even contact between the fabric and support surface during winding, resulting in uniform winding without punctiform adhesion.
3Reliability
If PVC-coated fabric is used for durability, then weather resistance is improved, but static friction increases at high temperatures causing adhesion to the support surface
Solution Approach 1:
A friction-reducing coating is applied to the support surface to act as an intermediary layer between the PVC-coated fabric and the support structure. This intermediate layer prevents direct adhesion between the PVC fabric and the support surface, especially at high temperatures, while still providing adequate support for the roll.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the support device are modified by applying a coating with different thermal and friction characteristics. This coating maintains low friction properties even at high temperatures, preventing the adhesion that would otherwise occur between PVC-coated fabric and the standard support surface under thermal stress.
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
Reduces static friction between the wound bale and the support device, enabling easier and more even winding and unwinding with lower forces, preventing adhesion and ensuring the fabric rolls up smoothly and evenly.
Implementation Method 1
the static friction between the wound bale and the support device is reduced
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a supporting surface (51) with friction-reducing inserts (54) and/or supports formed by brushes and/or fiber blanket. The friction-reducing inserts and/or the supports are formed in a form of strips that are parallel to an axial of a winding shaft. The inserts and/or the supports are glued on the supporting surface, where the supporting surface has a concave form e.g. a partial-cylindrical form. An independent claim is also included for a sun-shade and/or vision protection device.