Coil Spring Assembly With Internal Anti-Entanglement Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coil springs often entangle during transportation and separation, making damage-free separation difficult or impossible, especially when stored together in a common receptacle.
Innovation Solution
A spring assembly with an anti-entanglement element, such as an anti-entanglement stirrup or pin, is introduced into the coil spring's inner space to prevent entanglement, allowing multiple coil springs to be transported together without interlocking, using a design that is separate from the coil spring and can be easily inserted and removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple coil springs are dispensed into a common receptacle for transportation, then transportation efficiency is improved, but the coil springs become entangled with each other
Solution Approach 1:
An anti-entanglement element is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent coil springs. This element extends through the inner space of the coil spring and prevents the windings of adjacent springs from engaging with each other, thereby preventing entanglement while allowing multiple springs to be transported together in a common receptacle
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-entanglement element is designed as a separate component that can be individually inserted into each coil spring. This segmentation allows each spring to be independently protected against entanglement while maintaining the ability to transport multiple springs together as a group
2Quantity of substance
If coil springs are stored together in a common container, then storage space utilization is improved, but damage-free separation becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-entanglement element acts as a mediator that keeps coil springs separated within the common container. By preventing the windings from interlocking, it enables easy separation of individual springs when needed, while still allowing maximum storage capacity to be utilized
3Reliability
If anti-entanglement elements are introduced into coil springs during manufacture, then entanglement prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-entanglement element is introduced into the coil spring during the manufacturing process, before the spring is dispatched for storage or use. This preliminary action ensures that the protective element is already in place, preventing entanglement from occurring in the first place and eliminating the need for complex separation operations later
4Ease of manufacture
If anti-entanglement elements are formed separately from coil springs, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-entanglement element is manufactured as a separate component from the coil spring, allowing each to be produced using optimized processes for their specific requirements. The separate formation enables greater manufacturing flexibility while the element is subsequently assembled into the coil spring to provide entanglement protection
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a spring assembly, including: a coil spring having an inner space formed by the spring windings thereof; and an anti-entanglement element for protection against entanglement of the spring assembly, in particular with at least one further spring assembly or with at least one other coil spring; wherein the anti-entanglement element is partially disposed in the inner space formed by the spring windings and extends longitudinally through at least a portion of the inner space; and wherein the anti-entanglement element (14, 26) is provided in the form of an anti-entanglement stirrup, formed separately from the coil spring and clampingly supported in the inner space; or wherein the anti-entanglement element is provided in the form of an anti-entanglement pin, which is formed separately from the coil spring and has a front loss-prevention or captive end and a rear stop end.