Chain Anchor Transverse Insertion for Forklift Mast Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing tolerances in industrial truck masts lead to chain misalignment and increased loads on chains and chain tensioners, making assembly, repair, and maintenance difficult and time-consuming due to narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
A device with a receiving part featuring a narrow cross-section passage and a chain anchor with a head that allows transverse insertion and 90° rotation for secure attachment, enabling easy assembly and maintenance by allowing the chain anchor to be inserted transversely and rotated for secure holding, with optional spherical surfaces for diagonal pulling without additional force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the chain anchor is inserted transversely and rotated by 90° for secure attachment, then the ease of assembly and maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the narrow cross-section passage and opening geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The chain anchor is inserted through a narrow opening in a transverse direction and then rotated by approximately 90 degrees around its longitudinal axis. This dimensional change from transverse insertion to longitudinal positioning allows the chain anchor to be securely held in the receiving part without requiring complex fastening mechanisms, thereby improving ease of assembly while managing device complexity through clever use of spatial orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting the chain anchor longitudinally and securing it from the end, the invention inverts the approach by inserting the chain anchor transversely through a narrow opening and then rotating it into its final position. This inverted insertion method simplifies the assembly process by allowing easy access through the opening while achieving secure retention through rotation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spherical surfaces are added for diagonal pulling, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head of the chain anchor and the corresponding surface in the receiving part are designed with spherical geometry. This spheroidality allows the chain anchor to perform limited pivoting movements and accommodates diagonal pulling forces without exerting additional forces on the chain. The spherical surfaces are integrated into the existing structure, minimizing additional manufacturing complexity while significantly improving adaptability.
3Reliability
If the chain anchor head dimensions are larger than the narrow cross-section, then the secure holding is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The chain anchor is segmented into distinct functional portions: a head with dimensions greater than the narrow cross-section for secure holding, a connecting portion with reduced thickness for passing through the opening, and the attachment point for the chain. This segmentation allows the head to provide reliable retention while the connecting portion facilitates easy insertion through the narrow opening, balancing reliability with manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the chain anchor have different dimensional characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The head has larger dimensions transverse to the longitudinal extension for secure holding, while the connecting portion has reduced thickness for passing through the narrow opening. This local differentiation of quality allows the component to meet both secure retention and ease of assembly requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The system to secure the chain (10) in the lifting mechanism of a fork lift truck has a C-shaped holder (24) for the chain anchor (14) with a passage (26) on the longitudinal line of the chain. It has a narrowed section (34) between the ends. An opening is at one side of the passage, parallel to it, in a smaller width than the passage cross section and the narrowed section. The anchor has a head (20) at the lower end, with a larger lateral width than the narrowed section. A connecting section (16) is between the anchor head and the chain comb (12) with different cross sections. The anchor is inserted into the opening and then rotated by 90[deg] to lock it in place.