Balancing Weight with Trapezoidal Recess for Combing Machine Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing balancing weights for combing machines experience dynamic shifts and wear due to high acceleration forces, leading to loosening of connections and adverse effects on product quality, as they are not securely attached to the round comb shaft.

Innovation Solution

A balancing weight with a longitudinal and transverse length, featuring a trapezoidal recess and inclined surfaces that provide defined contact points and increased normal force, allowing for a secure and non-slip connection to the round comb shaft, even under high acceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the counterweight is attached to the circular comb shaft using conventional connections, then the counterweight can be secured to the shaft, but under high acceleration forces the connection experiences dynamic displacement and torsional twisting leading to wear and loosening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidwear and loosening
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight is designed with a curved outer contour that matches the cylindrical surface of the comb shaft, creating a conformal contact interface. This curved geometry distributes contact forces more evenly and prevents point loading, thereby reducing wear and maintaining connection stability under high acceleration forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The counterweight features localized contact surfaces with specific geometric properties (curved contour matching the shaft diameter) at the interface with the comb shaft. This local geometric optimization ensures optimal contact and force distribution precisely where the connection is most susceptible to wear and displacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the counterweight is positioned at a large distance from the axis of the circular comb shaft to balance the comb segment, then the balancing effect is improved, but the mass moment of inertia increases due to the large distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebalancing effectVSAvoidmass moment of inertia
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight is strategically positioned on the opposite side of the comb shaft from the comb segment to create a balancing moment. By optimizing the counterweight's mass and radial position, the design achieves effective counterbalancing of the comb segment's weight while minimizing the counterweight's distance from the shaft axis, thus reducing the mass moment of inertia.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The design optimizes the counterweight's geometric parameters (mass, radial distance, angular position) to achieve the desired balancing effect. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves adequate counterbalancing while minimizing the mass moment of inertia, allowing for faster acceleration and deceleration of the circular comb.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the circular comb is driven with discontinuous rotary motion to adapt to the combing process, then the adaptability to the combing process is improved, but high acceleration forces are generated due to the superposition of base speed with sinusoidal rising and falling speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to combing processVSAvoidacceleration forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight is designed to dynamically counterbalance the varying forces generated during discontinuous rotary motion. The counterweight's position and mass are optimized to provide a counteracting moment that compensates for the high acceleration forces, allowing the system to achieve the desired discontinuous motion profile while minimizing the impact of these forces on the overall system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the counterweight is secured to the circular comb shaft, then the connection provides support, but bending loads arise on the clamping screws leading to fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection supportVSAvoidscrew fatigue resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The curved outer contour of the counterweight creates a conformal contact interface with the cylindrical comb shaft, distributing contact forces evenly across the interface. This eliminates concentrated bending loads on the clamping screws by providing a continuous support surface, thereby preventing fatigue failure of the fastening elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 solution ensures a displacement-free connection between the balancing weight and the round comb shaft, reducing wear and maintaining product quality by enhancing torsional rigidity and force transmission.

Implementation Method 1

providing defined contact points and increased normal force, allowing for a secure and non-slip connection to the round comb shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNormal force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

enhancing torsional rigidity and force transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion: Torque

Data Source

PatentEP4219811B1Balancing weight for a combing device of a combing machine
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 GRAF CIE AG
  • EP4219811B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4219811B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4219811B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a counterweight (10) for a combing device of a combing machine and to a combing device. The counterweight (10) has a length (23) in a longitudinal direction (24) and a transverse direction (25) and is provided with at least two through-openings (26) in the transverse direction (25) for mounting on a surface (27) of a round comb shaft (7) with a round comb shaft diameter (28) and at least two through-bores (29) in the transverse direction (25) for clamping with a round comb (7). The counterweight (10) is designed in the form of an annular arc segment with a segment angle (α) of 70 to 110 degrees for bearing against the surface (27) of the round comb shaft (7).In the longitudinal direction (24) a trapezoidal depression (30) with a base surface (31) is provided over the entire length (23) on one side of the counterweight (10) facing the round comb shaft (7), wherein the through openings (26) and the through bores (28) open into the base surface (31) and the depression (30) is bounded by inclined surfaces (32) arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction (24), which enclose an opening angle (β) of 45 to 75 degrees.