Energy Chain Link Side Portion With Spring Lip Noise Damping

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy guiding chains experience residual speed and noise generation due to abrupt contact between abutment surfaces, which is not adequately addressed by current damping mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a spring lip with an axial end region that asymmetrically transmits kinetic energy, combining bending and torsional moments to absorb kinetic energy more effectively, reducing residual speed and noise by increasing the spring lip's resilient deformation and spring constant throughout the deceleration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If spring lips are used with abutment surfaces to dampen pivotal movement, then kinetic energy is absorbed and residual speed is reduced, but abrupt contact between abutment surfaces still generates noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise generationVSAvoidkinetic energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The spring lip features an axial end region that is asymmetric with respect to the bending axis. This asymmetric geometry causes the spring lip to be loaded not only with a bending moment but also with a torsional moment when the second abutment surface applies force. The combined bending and torsional deformation increases the spring lip's ability to absorb kinetic energy throughout the deceleration process, reducing residual speed and minimizing abrupt contact noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The spring constant of the spring lip changes continuously during the deceleration process. Initially, the spring lip is softer and more compliant, providing gentle deceleration. As the spring lip deforms and becomes progressively harder, the deceleration effect increases. This dynamic parameter change allows for efficient kinetic energy absorption across multiple phases of the pivotal movement, reducing residual speed without generating noise from abrupt abutment contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the spring lip is made more resilient to increase kinetic energy absorption, then the spring lip can be stressed to a greater degree, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekinetic energy absorption capacityVSAvoidspring lip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring lip features an axial end region that is asymmetric with respect to the bending axis. This asymmetric geometry causes the spring lip to be loaded not only with a bending moment but also with a torsional moment when the second abutment surface applies force. The combined bending and torsional deformation increases the spring lip's ability to absorb kinetic energy throughout the deceleration process, reducing residual speed and minimizing abrupt contact noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The spring constant of the spring lip changes continuously during the deceleration process. Initially, the spring lip is softer and more compliant, providing gentle deceleration. As the spring lip deforms and becomes progressively harder, the deceleration effect increases. This dynamic parameter change allows for efficient kinetic energy absorption across multiple phases of the pivotal movement, reducing residual speed without generating noise from abrupt abutment contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach significantly reduces residual speed and noise by efficiently absorbing kinetic energy through a multi-phase deformation process, with the spring constant increasing during retardation, resulting in a gentler and more effective deceleration mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

a spring lip resiliently deformable about a bending axis parallel to the pivot axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

besides the bending moment, a torsional moment can also be produced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBending moment:

Implementation Method 3

a torsional moment can also be produced with respect to an axis which is radial with respect to the bending axis; that torsional moment resiliently deforms the spring lip in addition to the resilient bending thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsional moment:

Data Source

PatentUS11300182B2Side portion, chain link and energy guiding chain

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 IGUS SE & CO KG

AI summary

A side portion for a chain link of an energy guiding chain. The side portion has at its ends a respective overlap region which, for limiting pivotal movement, are provided with corresponding abutment surfaces and with a pivot axis, that is to say a first overlap region having first abutment surfaces and a second overlap region having second abutment surfaces. For damping of the pivotal movement, disposed in front of at least each first abutment surface is a spring lip which is resiliently deformable about a bending axis parallel to the pivot axis. The spring lip has an end region which is axial with respect to its bending axis, for coupling in the kinetic energy which is transmitted to said spring lip in the position of installation by the second abutment surface, that corresponds to the first abutment surface, of the second overlap region of the adjacent chain link.