Chain Guide With Recessed Side Wall Rib

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chain guides face challenges in reducing size without compromising strength, especially in limited engine room spaces, where the addition of side wall ribs increases the guide's width dimension.

Innovation Solution

The chain guide incorporates a guide shoe with upstream and downstream lips and a shoe widthwise recess, allowing the side wall rib of the base member to be located inside the recess, preventing an increase in guide width and maintaining strength, while the side wall rib acts as a guide to prevent chain sideway displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If side wall ribs are provided on the base member to enhance strength, then the strength of the base member is improved, but the overall dimension of the chain guide in the guide width direction is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of the base memberVSAvoidoverall dimension in guide width direction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall rib is positioned inside the shoe widthwise recess of the guide shoe, nesting the reinforcement structure within the existing footprint of the chain guide. This allows the side wall rib to enhance base member strength without increasing the overall width dimension, as the recess provides internal space for the rib structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The side wall rib extends in the guide height direction rather than increasing the guide width. By utilizing the vertical dimension for structural reinforcement, the design achieves enhanced strength while maintaining a compact width suitable for limited engine room spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the chain guide size is reduced for limited installation space, then the installation space requirement is reduced, but the strength of the chain guide may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of the chain guideVSAvoidstrength of the chain guide

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The side wall rib is positioned inside the shoe widthwise recess of the guide shoe, nesting the reinforcement structure within the existing footprint of the chain guide. This allows the side wall rib to enhance base member strength without increasing the overall width dimension, as the recess provides internal space for the rib structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The side wall rib extends in the guide height direction rather than increasing the guide width. By utilizing the vertical dimension for structural reinforcement, the design achieves enhanced strength while maintaining a compact width suitable for limited engine room spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10544855B2Chain guide

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO

AI summary

Provided is a chain guide that enables a reduction in size with a simple structure, without lowering the strength of the chain guide. The base member 30 includes a side wall rib 32 or 33 extending upward higher than a shoe support surface 31 at at least one of both side edges 31a and 31b in a guide width direction. The guide shoe 20 includes, at at least one of both side edges 20a and 20b in the guide width direction, an upstream lip 22, a downstream lip 23, and a shoe widthwise recess 24 formed between the upstream lip 22 and the downstream lip 23 by inwardly recessing the side edge 20a or 20b of the guide shoe 20 in the guide width direction. The side wall rib 32 or 33 is located inside the shoe widthwise recess 24.