Chain Guide Reinforcing Unit for Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain guides face issues with durability due to stress concentration at connecting portions between flat and tubular parts, and high production costs associated with forming tubular parts by burring, which affects stability and wear resistance.
Innovation Solution
A chain guide design featuring a guide shoe with a reinforcing unit that includes a plate with plate through holes and spacers, allowing for continuous contact area with mounting shafts, reducing stress concentration, and enabling adjustable mounting hole length without the need for protruding tubular parts, thus lowering production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If tubular parts are formed by burring at the edge of mounting holes, then the contact area between mounting hole inner surface and mounting shaft is increased, but the connecting portions between flat part and tubular parts become more susceptible to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing plate is divided into multiple flat parts connected by bridges, separating the stress-bearing functions. The mounting holes are positioned on these flat parts without requiring burring to form tubular protrusions, thus avoiding stress concentration at connecting portions while maintaining adequate contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the reinforcing plate are designed with different properties: flat parts provide mounting surfaces with sufficient contact area, bridges provide flexible stress distribution paths, and the overall structure avoids stress concentration zones while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If tubular parts are formed by burring, then the chain guide stability is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing plate is segmented into flat parts and bridges, eliminating the need for burring to form tubular parts. This simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining stability through the distributed flat parts that provide adequate mounting surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The burring process and tubular part formation are completely removed from the manufacturing process. The mounting holes are simply formed through the flat parts without any subsequent burring or tubular formation steps, significantly reducing production cost.
3Strength
If the plate is made with high rigidity to reduce occupying space, then the strength and durability are improved, but the connecting portions become more susceptible to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into rigid flat parts for strength and flexible bridges for stress distribution. This segmentation allows the flat parts to maintain high rigidity for reduced occupying space while the bridges prevent stress concentration by providing compliant stress paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters are optimized by varying the thickness and geometry of flat parts and bridges. The flat parts have sufficient thickness for high rigidity, while the bridges have reduced thickness to provide flexibility and prevent stress concentration, achieving both strength and durability.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain guide is provided that allows for stable running of a chain, causes less wear or damage on the inner surface of mounting holes or on mounting shafts, and improves the durability without increasing production cost. The guide shoe includes a guide rail and a unit holding part that accommodates a reinforcing unit inserted thereinto from the backside of the guide rail. The reinforcing unit includes a plate and a spacer. The plate and spacer are aligned in a guide width direction, so that a plate through hole and a spacer through hole are continuous in the guide width direction, and are disposed in the unit holding part 22.