Bellows Gangway Cornerpiece With Cross-Bottom Joining Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cornerpieces for convolutes of bellows in gangways are costly to produce while providing comparable strength against tearing.
Innovation Solution
A new orientation of the line of connection between the first and second pieces of the cornerpiece, where the line crosses the bottom line or area, allowing for reduced manufacturing efforts and costs through methods like stitching, stapling, or gluing, and optionally eliminating the apex piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cornerpiece for a convolute of a bellows of a gangway is produced by means of a composite of two half-shells, then the cornerpiece can be produced in a cost-effective and simple manner, but the bellows cannot be pulled out or pushed in at the cornerpiece location
Solution Approach 1:
The cornerpiece is divided into two separate half-shells (first half-shell and second half-shell) that can be produced independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each half-shell to be manufactured using simple molding processes while maintaining the overall functionality of the cornerpiece assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second bellows are designed to nest within each other at the cornerpiece location, with the first bellows having a first end that receives the second bellows. This nesting arrangement allows the bellows to be pulled out or pushed in while maintaining the cornerpiece structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cornerpiece is formed as a single integrated piece, then the bellows can be pulled out or pushed in at the cornerpiece, but the production process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The cornerpiece is divided into two separate half-shells (first half-shell and second half-shell) that can be produced independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each half-shell to be manufactured using simple molding processes while maintaining the overall functionality of the cornerpiece assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The first half-shell and second half-shell are merged together to form the complete cornerpiece assembly. The adhesive layer bonds these two halves, creating a unified structure that functions as a complete cornerpiece while allowing for simpler individual manufacturing of each half.
3Reliability
If adhesive is applied to the entire outer circumferential surface of the first half-shell, then bonding is comprehensive, but adhesive accumulates in the recess and creates excess material
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive application is localized to specific regions rather than the entire surface. The adhesive layer is applied to the outer circumferential surface of the first half-shell excluding the recess area, and separately to the inner circumferential surface of the second half-shell, preventing accumulation while ensuring bonding at critical interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess area is excluded from the adhesive application zone on the first half-shell. By extracting the recess from the adhesive application area, the patent prevents adhesive accumulation while maintaining bonding effectiveness at the interfaces where adhesion is most critical.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a cornerpiece (3) of a convolute (2) of a bellows (1) of a gangway, the cornerpiece (3) extending from a first end (7) intended to be connected to a further part of the convolute (2) to a second end (8) intended to either be connected to a further part of the convolute (2) or to serve as an end of the convolute, wherein the cornerpiece (3) at least for a part of its extend from the first end (7) to the second end (8) has the shape of a trough that is bent into an arc, wherein the trough has a bottom line (9) or a bottom area (18), wherein the cornerpiece (3) has a first piece (10) that is a cut¬ away from sheet material and has a second piece (11) that is a cut¬ away from sheet material, wherein the first piece (10) is joined to the second piece (11) along a line of connection (12), wherein the line of connection crosses the bottom line or the bottom area.