Bowed Instrument String With Hollow Braid Mediator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stringed instrument strings for bowed instruments, such as double bass and cello, face challenges in achieving improved mechanical properties while maintaining efficient production processes, as conventional manufacturing methods are labor-intensive and result in strings with reduced elongation rigidity and tuning stability.

Innovation Solution

A string design featuring a linear core fiber with a hollow braid and helical metal wire wrapping, where the hollow braid acts as a mediating layer between the core and wrapping, enhancing mechanical properties and allowing for continuous production without slippage, thereby improving elongation rigidity and tuning stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional manufacturing methods are used to produce individual strings, then each string can be customized, but the production process becomes labor-intensive and less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual string production processes into a single continuous manufacturing process. Multiple cores are processed simultaneously through extrusion and wrapping operations, producing multiple strings in one continuous run rather than individually, thereby significantly increasing productivity while maintaining manufacturing quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous production where cores are extruded continuously and wrapped with metal wire in an uninterrupted process. This eliminates the start-stop nature of individual string production, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the manufacturing process to maximize productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If the wrapping is applied directly to the core, then the structure is simpler, but slippage occurs between wrapping and core during production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-slip performanceVSAvoidstring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coating layer as an intermediary between the core and the metal wire wrapping. This coating layer acts as a mediator that increases friction and adhesion, preventing slippage between the wrapping and core during production while maintaining a relatively simple overall string structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by applying a coating material to the core surface before wrapping. This composite approach combines the core material with a coating layer that has enhanced surface properties for gripping the metal wire, thereby improving anti-slip performance without significantly complicating the structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If multiple strings are produced individually, then each string can be precisely controlled, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidstring consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple core extrusion processes into a single extrusion system that produces multiple cores simultaneously. This merging approach maintains precise control over each core's dimensions and properties while producing multiple strings in parallel, thereby increasing production speed without sacrificing manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes in the extrusion process, such as adjusting extrusion speed, temperature, and pressure, to ensure that multiple cores produced simultaneously maintain consistent dimensions and properties. This allows high-speed production while preserving string consistency through controlled parameter variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4009318A1String for a stringed instrument
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 TEMPERA STRINGS GMBH
  • EP4009318A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4009318A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4009318A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a string (1) for a bowed string instrument, preferably for a double bass or a cello, comprising a string core (2) made of at least one core fiber (20) oriented linearly in the direction of extension (x) of the string for receiving the tension of the string (1), a hollow braid (3) surrounding the string core (2) with a braiding angle (a, β) between 15° and 80° made of at least three braiding fibers (30, 32), and a helical wrapping (4) made of a metal wire (40, 42) surrounding the string core (2) and the hollow braid (3).