Bore Alignment Tool With Rotating Bushings to Prevent Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alignment tools for structural members, such as flanges, cause wear and damage to the inner surfaces of bores due to friction and grinding, especially when dealing with large structural members.
Innovation Solution
An alignment tool with a first and second shaft portion of cylindrical configuration, where the second shaft portion is smaller and positioned eccentrically, and bushings are used to cover the surfaces, allowing rotational movement without direct contact, minimizing friction and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the alignment tool shaft portions directly contact and rotate within the bores, then alignment function is achieved, but wear and damage to the inner surfaces of the bores occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Bushings are introduced as intermediary elements between the alignment tool shaft portions and the bores. The bushings rotate within the bores while the shaft portions rotate relative to the bushings, preventing direct contact between the shaft portions and the bore surfaces. This mediator approach eliminates the harmful grinding effect on the bore surfaces while maintaining the alignment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tool is divided into separate functional components: shaft portions for alignment and bushings for protective rotation. The bushings are separable elements that can be independently rotated relative to the shaft portions, allowing the shaft portions to perform alignment without directly contacting the bore surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If the second shaft portion has smaller diameter than the first shaft portion, then eccentric positioning is achieved for alignment, but frictional forces increase in large structural members
Solution Approach 1:
The bushings serve as mediators that reduce frictional forces between the shaft portions and the bores. By introducing these intermediary rotating elements, the direct frictional contact is eliminated, allowing the eccentric shaft configuration to achieve precise alignment without experiencing excessive frictional forces in large structural members.
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 tool effectively aligns bores while reducing wear and damage to the inner surfaces, enabling precise alignment without abrasion or grinding, even in large structural members.
Implementation Method 1
the shaft portions slide against the inner surfaces of the bores formed in the structural members, thereby creating a grinding effect which may potentially damage the inner surfaces of the bores
Data Source
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AI summary
An alignment tool (1) for aligning a bore (13) extending through a first structural member (14) with a bore (19) extending through a second structural member (15) is disclosed. The alignment tool (1) comprises two shaft portions (2, 3) having a cylindrical or cylindrical like configuration. The second shaft portion (3) is arranged adjacent to the first shaft portion (2). A portion of the second surface forms a continuation of a portion of the first surface. A first bushing (8) is arranged along the first shaft portion (2) and substantially covering the first surface, and a second bushing (9) is arranged along the second shaft portion (3) and substantially covering the second surface. Mutual rotational movements are allowed between the first shaft portion (2) and the first bushing (8) and between the second shaft portion (3) and the second bushing (9).