Brake Cylinder Clamping Ring Uniform Force Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brake cylinder clamps do not provide a uniform clamping force due to gaps and require significant space for screw-nut connections, and existing solutions complicate assembly and risk material damage.

Innovation Solution

A form-fitting clamping connection using a clamping ring with regular patterned openings on the lower housing part and snap hooks on the upper housing part, which alternates with peripheral sections without openings or hooks, providing a structurally simple and uniform clamping force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a screw-nut connection is used to generate clamping force, then the clamping force can be generated, but the space requirement increases and the force curve becomes non-uniform due to gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the clamping function from the housing ends and implements it through a separate clamp that wraps around the housing. This clamp generates clamping force via friction at two tangential screw-nut connections, eliminating the need to integrate clamping features into the housing geometry and avoiding the space constraints and material forming issues of the prior art.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp acts as an intermediary component that mediates the clamping function between the housing parts. Instead of directly integrating clamping mechanisms into the housing, the clamp serves as a separate element that provides the clamping force through friction-based screw-nut connections, resolving the contradiction between force generation and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If a screw-nut connection is used to generate clamping force, then the clamping force can be generated, but the force curve becomes non-uniform due to gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping forceVSAvoidforce uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the clamping function from the housing ends and implements it through a separate clamp that wraps around the housing. This clamp generates clamping force via friction at two tangential screw-nut connections, eliminating the need to integrate clamping features into the housing geometry and avoiding the space constraints and material forming issues of the prior art.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp is designed with two tangential screw-nut connections positioned at specific locations to distribute the clamping force more uniformly around the circumference. This local arrangement of fastening points creates a more balanced force distribution compared to radial connections, improving the uniformity of the force curve and reducing localized surface pressures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the clamping function is integrated into the housing ends, then the clamp structure is simplified, but the assembly process becomes complex and material damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamp structureVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the clamping function from the housing structure, using a separate removable clamp instead of integrating clamping features directly into the housing ends. This segmentation simplifies the housing geometry (no narrow forming radii required) while maintaining a relatively simple clamp structure, and significantly eases the assembly process by avoiding complex forming operations and tooling requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the clamping function from the housing ends and implements it through a separate clamp that wraps around the housing. This clamp generates clamping force via friction at two tangential screw-nut connections, eliminating the need to integrate clamping features into the housing geometry and avoiding the space constraints and material forming issues of the prior art.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3055177B1Brake cylinder
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3055177B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3055177B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3055177B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns a brake cylinder (1), comprising a brake cylinder housing (2) with a housing upper part (3) and a housing lower part (4) and a diaphragm (16), the housing upper part (3) comprising fluid-pipe connections (5, 6), and the housing lower part (4) comprising securing means (10, 11) for securing to a brake. The invention is characterized in that the housing upper part (3), the housing lower part (4) and the diaphragm (16) are clamped together in form-fitting manner at a junction by a clamping ring (38) on the housing upper side and a clamping ring (30) on the housing lower side.