Interlocking Chain Unit Buckling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interlocking chain units face challenges in reliably engaging inner and outer tooth plates, leading to buckling and twisting due to uneven compression forces and unavoidable clearance backlash, which affects the rigidity and stability of the chain.
Innovation Solution
The interlocking chain unit design features hook-shaped interlocking end faces and flat buckling restricting end faces that form point-symmetric plate overlap regions, allowing for elastic deformation to remove play and balance compression forces, ensuring firm engagement and increased rigidity by preventing buckling and twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If inner tooth plates and outer tooth plates are interlocked with pairs of front and rear coupling pins, then the interlocking chains can be formed, but uneven compression forces are applied to the plates causing buckling and twisting
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin is divided into multiple functional segments: a body portion for connection, a buckling restricting portion with restricted movement capability, and a play removing portion with elastic deformation capability. This segmentation allows each portion to address specific problems independently while working together to achieve overall chain stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling pin's play removing portion is designed to elastically deform under compression forces, changing its physical state from rigid to flexible temporarily. This elastic deformation absorbs uneven compression forces and removes clearance backlash between plates, preventing buckling and twisting while maintaining the interlocking structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If clearance backlash exists between parts in the chains, then the chains can be assembled, but buckling and twisting occur in the rigidified chain portion
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin's play removing portion automatically removes clearance backlash through elastic deformation when compression forces are applied during chain operation. The system self-adjusts without external intervention, eliminating play between plates and preventing buckling and twisting of the rigidified chain portion.
3Measurement precision
If the interlocking chains are made rigid in the forward and backward movement direction, then accurate movement is achieved, but buckling and twisting occur due to uneven compression forces
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pin's buckling restricting portion acts as a counterbalance mechanism that restricts and balances uneven compression forces applied to the interlocking plates. By providing this counteracting force through the restricted movement capability, the system prevents buckling and twisting while maintaining the rigidified chain's accurate forward and backward movement.
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
This design achieves reliable and firm interlocking between inner and outer tooth plates, enhancing the rigidity of the interlocking chains, reducing backlash, and enabling accurate forward and backward movements while avoiding buckling and twisting.
Implementation Method 1
Any or all of the inner tooth plates, the outer tooth plates, and the coupling pins are elastically deformed to make the pair of interlocking chains rigid and to remove play between parts in forming the plate overlap regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an interlocking chain unit configured such that chains reliably and firmly engage with each other and that the buckling and twisting of a rigidified chain portion are avoided. An interlocking chain unit (100) is configured such that the outer edges of a plate overlap region (P) are defined by contact portion faces (111aa, 111aa) and flat buckling restricting end faces (112b, 112b), and that the plate overlap region (P) is constructed from the outlines of two plate overlap portions (Pa, Pa) which are point-point-symmetric about the point (C) of intersection between hook-shaped interlocking end faces (111a, 111a) and the buckling restricting end faces (112b, 112b).