Crimped Reinforced Belt Joint With Integrated Pressing Tool Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt technologies face durability issues due to wear of pressing tools used to connect reinforcement ends, leading to reduced tensile force transfer and service life, especially when high compressive forces are required.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a connecting element with a tool area that serves as a pressing tool, reducing wear by eliminating the need for external tools and allowing for a smoother surface that can be pressed directly, along with the use of different materials for clamping bodies and connecting elements to optimize deformability and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If external pressing tools are used to crimp steel cable ends into belt end bodies, then the connection can be achieved, but the tools wear out due to very high crimping forces
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing tool functionality is merged with the belt end body itself. The tool area is formed as an integrated part of the belt end body, eliminating the need for separate external pressing tools. This integration ensures that the pressing surface is always available and cannot wear out from repeated use of external tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt end body serves itself by providing the pressing function through its own tool area. The tool area with its contour is designed to directly receive and guide the pressing force during crimping operations, making the belt end body both the workpiece and the tooling surface.
2Force
If external pressing tools with contours are used, then high crimping forces can be applied, but the tool contours wear out affecting connection quality
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing contour is merged into the belt end body structure. The tool area is formed with the appropriate contour directly in the belt end body, so that the pressing surface and the workpiece become one integrated unit, eliminating wear between separate tool and workpiece surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using durable external tools that wear out, the pressing surface is made as part of the belt end body itself, which is replaced anyway when the belt is replaced. This eliminates the need to maintain expensive pressing tools with precise contours.
3Ease of manufacture
If the same material is used for both clamping bodies and connecting elements, then manufacturing is simplified, but optimal deformability and strength cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Different materials are used for different components based on their specific functional requirements. The clamping body uses a softer material optimized for deformability during crimping, while the connecting element uses a harder material optimized for strength and wear resistance during service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite construction with different materials for different parts. The clamping body can be made of softer steel or aluminum alloy for ease of deformation, while the connecting element uses harder steel for strength, creating an optimized composite system.
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 enhances the durability of the press connection, reduces distortion, and increases the service life of the belt by minimizing tool wear and improving the absorption of pressing forces, while maintaining high tensile force transmission and ease of manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
The ends of the reinforcing elements are held in a force-fit connection by the connecting element through compression
Implementation Method 2
The material of the clamping bodies is softer relative to the material of the connecting elements, which facilitates good crimping with the ends of the reinforcing elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a belt (1) or to a belt segment (1) with a plurality of reinforcing supports (13) running in the longitudinal direction (X) and arranged parallel to one another, and with a connecting element (2) which forms one end (15) of the belt (1) or of the belt segment (1) and is designed for connection to a further connecting element (2) of the other end (15) of the belt (1) or to one end (15) of a further belt segment (1), wherein the ends (14) of the reinforcing supports (13) can be held by the connecting element (2) with a force fit by means of pressing. The belt (1) or the belt segment (1) is characterized in that a partial region (36) of the connecting element (2) is designed as a tool region (36) in order to serve as a tool part during the pressing of the ends (14) of the reinforcing supports (13) in the connecting element (2).