Ball Catch Housing With Replaceable Ball Guide and Hidden Spring Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ball catches have visible adjusting screws and suffer from uncontrolled release of compression springs and balls when the adjusting screw is loosened, making manufacturing complex and handling cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of separate ball guides that can be inserted from below into the catch housing, allowing for flexible material choices and easy replacement, with the option to adjust spring pressure without an adjusting screw, and incorporating friction-reducing additives for long-term lubrication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adjusting screws are used to adjust spring pressure, then spring pressure can be adjusted, but the screws are visible from outside and the spring may fall uncontrolled when the screw is loosened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of spring pressureVSAvoidvisibility of adjusting screws and uncontrolled spring release

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adjusting screw is extracted from the external view and integrated into the ball guide structure. The ball guide is designed with an internal adjusting screw that is not visible from outside the housing, eliminating the aesthetic and safety issues while maintaining adjustability functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjusting screw is nested within the ball guide structure, which itself is inserted into the housing. This nested arrangement allows the adjusting mechanism to be concealed inside the housing while still providing access for adjustment, preventing uncontrolled spring release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If the catch housing is made entirely of metal, then strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases and material waste occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of catch housingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ball guide is made of plastic material instead of metal, creating a composite structure where metal housing provides strength and plastic ball guide provides cost-effective manufacturing. This reduces material waste and production costs while maintaining functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the entire catch housing is replaced when a ball guide wears out, then reliability is maintained, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of locking mechanismVSAvoidcomplexity of replacement process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ball guide is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be independently exchanged without replacing the entire catch housing. This segmentation allows maintenance of only the worn part, reducing replacement complexity and cost while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Duration of action of moving object

If friction-reducing additives are incorporated into the ball guide material, then lubrication is improved for long-term operation, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of lubricationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic material of the ball guide is modified by incorporating friction-reducing additives during the manufacturing process. This parameter change in material composition provides long-term self-lubrication properties, reducing the need for separate lubrication mechanisms and simplifying overall manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design simplifies manufacturing, improves handling by hiding screws, allows for cost-effective production, and enables easy replacement of worn parts, providing flexible usage options and adjustable spring pressure without visible screws.

Implementation Method 1

In each case a compression spring and an adjusting screw that closes off the socket adjoin the balls in the sockets. The compression spring is thus supported on the ball and on the adjusting screw. The pressure force of the compression spring on the ball may be adjusted with the adjusting screw.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

When the ball guide is made of a plastic material, the plastic may be provided with friction-reducing additives to ensure long-term lubrication in the guide for supporting the ball and spring which are displaceably situated there.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS11111704B2Ball catch locking device

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 OTTO GANTER GMBH & CO KG NORMTEILEFAB

AI summary

A ball catch (1) having a catch housing (26) with two spring-loaded balls (5) which are displaceable therein under spring loading, and which are supported in two oppositely situated sockets (9) of the catch housing (26) and protrude in a diametrically opposed manner into a middle receiving space (10) between the sockets (9), and a centering part (2) which with a journal (13) integrally formed thereon is insertable into the receiving space (10) and is lockable by the balls (5) at that location, wherein the ball guide (4) for the balls (5) and the compression springs (6) is inserted into the catch housing (26) as a separate part.