Endoscope Bending Tube Parallel Slide Surface Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope bending tubes face challenges in resisting external forces such as pulling, bending, and twisting due to the inclined slide surfaces in conventional joint mechanisms, leading to reduced resistance and potential displacement or jamming.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope apparatus features a bending tube with a link portion and engagement portion designed using laser machining, where the slide surfaces are parallel to the rotation axis, providing increased resistance by allowing the engagement portion to contact a receiving portion with a perpendicular surface, enhancing the tube's ability to withstand external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inclined slide surfaces are used in conventional joint mechanisms, then the bending tube can be easily bent, but the resistance to external forces (pulling, bending, twisting) is reduced leading to displacement or jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the slide surface from inclined (conventional) to parallel with the rotation axis. This parameter change allows the engagement portion to contact the receiving portion with a perpendicular surface, increasing resistance to external forces while maintaining bendability through the parallel slide surface configuration.
2Reliability
If the slide surface is parallel to the rotation axis, then the resistance to external forces is increased, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the slide surface orientation with the rotation axis direction, and combines the engagement portion's perpendicular surface with the receiving portion's geometry. This integration achieves increased resistance to external forces without adding separate complex components, as the functional requirements are embedded in the basic joint structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If laser machining is used to form link and engagement portions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical machining methods with laser machining for forming the link portion and engagement portion. This substitution achieves superior manufacturing precision for the joint features while the automated laser processing maintains reasonable productivity through non-contact, high-speed material removal.
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 configuration significantly increases the resistance to external forces, preventing displacement and jamming, allowing the bending tube to be effectively bent in multiple directions while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a link portion to be a rotation shaft of a joint portion and an engagement portion are simultaneously produced by making cuts in a straight tube with laser light
Data Source
AI summary
A joint portion in the bending portion for use in the insertion portion of an endoscope joints bending pieces with slide surfaces parallel to the rotation axis of bending and with slide surfaces perpendicular to the rotation axis. Since the slide surfaces receive external force exerted in the direction of the rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the surfaces, they are resistant to displacement or twisting.