Chain Guide Bridge Portion Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain guides for screen groups often compromise on smoothness and quiet operation due to the involvement of side walls in rotation and stopping functions, leading to undesired rotations and noise during screen movement.
Innovation Solution
A chain guide design where pivoting coupling and rotation stopping mechanisms are exclusively located at the bridge portion, with canti-levered pins and C-shaped circular seats for coupling, and separate abutment and inclined portions for stopping, ensuring side walls are free from rotation and stopping functions, enhancing smoothness and quietness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If side walls are used for both pivoting coupling and rotation stopping functions, then the structure is more compact, but the operation becomes noisy and less smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chain guide elements into distinct functional components: side walls dedicated to receiving the screen and bridge portions dedicated to pivoting coupling and rotation stopping. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, reducing interference and noise during operation while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the rotation stopping function from the side walls and relocates it to the bridge portion through abutment portions. This extraction eliminates the source of noise and rough operation associated with side wall involvement in rotation control, while the side walls remain dedicated to their primary screening function.
2Ease of manufacture
If rotation stopping portions are integrated into pins or side walls, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the screen operation becomes less smooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the rotation stopping mechanism from the vertical dimension (side walls) to the horizontal dimension (bridge portion). The abutment portions on the bridge engage with stopping portions on adjacent elements horizontally, achieving rotation control without involving the vertical side walls, thus improving smoothness while maintaining manufacturability.
3Device complexity
If pins and stopping portions are arranged at side walls, then the structure is more compact, but undesired rotations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces abutment portions on the bridge portion as intermediary elements that mediate between the pins and the rotation control function. These abutment portions provide dedicated stopping surfaces that prevent undesired rotations while allowing the side walls to maintain their compact screening structure without rotation control responsibilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a chain guide (100) for a screen group of the type comprising a plurality of rigid elements (10) arranged one after the other, each of said rigid elements comprising two side walls (12) and a bridge portion (11) for connecting said side walls (12); said rigid elements (10) being connected together in a rotary manner by means of a pivoting coupling (14, 13) so as to progressively pass from a substantially vertical arrangement to a substantially horizontal one; wherein it is foreseen for there to be means (18, 19, 31, 32) for stopping the rotation when said rigid elements (10) have reached said horizontal arrangement; wherein both said pivoting coupling (14, 13) and said means (18, 19, 31, 32) for stopping the rotation are arranged at said bridge portion (11).