Braided Polymer Chain Links for High-Load Wear Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chains fail to maintain strength and durability under various environmental conditions and wear, leading to inefficiencies and potential breakage, especially when subjected to high loads and abrasion.
Innovation Solution
A chain design featuring interconnected chain-links with a braided core comprising multiple consecutive turns of polymeric elongated elements, which provides enhanced strength retention, damage tolerance, and flexibility, allowing for larger dimensions and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If chains use traditional polymeric elongated elements with lower tenacity, then the chain is lighter and easier to handle, but the chain strength and durability decrease leading to breakage under load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tenacity parameter of the polymeric elongated element from conventional values (typically 0.5-0.8 N/tex) to at least 1.0 N/tex, representing a fundamental material property change. This parameter change enables the chain to achieve higher strength without proportional weight increase, as the improved tenacity allows for more efficient load bearing per unit mass of polymer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by integrating the high tenacity polymeric elongated element into a braided core structure within the chain-link. This composite approach combines the superior strength properties of the enhanced polymer with the structural integrity of the braided configuration, creating a chain that optimizes both strength and weight characteristics through material and structural synergism.
2Force
If chains are designed with higher strength materials and constructions, then the chain can handle heavier loads, but the chain becomes heavier and reduces payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the tenacity parameter of the polymeric material to at least 1.0 N/tex, the patent achieves higher load bearing capacity without linearly increasing chain weight. The improved tenacity allows the same mass of polymer to support greater forces, or alternatively, reduces the mass needed for a given load capacity, thereby improving the force-to-weight ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies excessive action by specifying polymeric elongated elements with tenacity of at least 1.0 N/tex, which exceeds conventional standards. This excessive tenacity provides a margin of safety and ensures that the chain can handle heavy loads without approaching weight penalties, as the material strength is more than sufficient for typical applications.
3Strength
If chains use conventional chain-link constructions, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the efficiency and strength retention of the polymeric elements are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tenacity parameter of the polymeric elongated element to at least 1.0 N/tex, which fundamentally alters how the material performs within the chain-link construction. This parameter change enables the polymeric elements to retain their strength more effectively under load, overcoming the limitations of conventional constructions without requiring complex design modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain includes a plurality of interconnected chain links, wherein at least one of the chain links comprises a Turk's head braided core having at least two consecutive turns of at least one primary strand. The at least one primary strand includes polymeric elongated elements having a tenacity of at least 1.0 N/tex.