Coil Spring End Coil Offset for Coupler Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coil spring holders face difficulties in securely supporting coil springs with reduced diameters, as the inner diameter of the coil spring becomes smaller, making it challenging to press-fit the insert and increasing the required force for deformation, which complicates assembly and precision requirements.
Innovation Solution
The coil spring design features a resilient portion with a first diameter and an end coil with a second diameter shifted from the first central axis by a predetermined amount, allowing a coupler with a specific width to be inserted, which secures the end coil and facilitates assembly by distributing stress and reducing the force needed for deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inner diameter of the coil spring is reduced to downsize the apparatus, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the force required to press-fit the insert increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring is segmented into two functional parts: a resilient portion with a first diameter for providing elastic force, and an end coil with a second diameter (smaller than the first) for receiving the coupler. This segmentation allows the spring to be downsized for compact apparatus while maintaining ease of assembly through the larger-circumference end coil.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the coil spring have different local qualities: the resilient portion has a larger diameter optimized for elastic deformation and force generation, while the end coil has a smaller diameter specifically optimized for coupler insertion and secure coupling. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making each section serve its specific function with optimal dimensions.
2Volume of moving object
If the inner diameter of the coil spring is reduced, then the apparatus becomes more compact, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to difficulty in press-fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring is divided into a resilient portion and an end coil with different diameters. The end coil has a larger circumference specifically designed to accommodate the coupler, which reduces the press-fit force required and lowers manufacturing precision requirements compared to a uniformly small-diameter spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The end coil section has locally optimized quality with a diameter designed for easy coupler insertion, while the resilient portion maintains its smaller overall diameter for compactness. This local quality differentiation reduces precision requirements at the critical coupling interface.
3Reliability
If a coupler is inserted into the coil spring to secure it, then the coil spring is firmly held, but the insert deformation force increases when the spring diameter is small
Solution Approach 1:
The coil spring is segmented into a resilient portion and an end coil, where the end coil has a larger circumference specifically for receiving the coupler. This segmentation ensures reliable coupling through the end coil while the resilient portion maintains compact dimensions, reducing the deformation force required during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The end coil has locally optimized dimensions with a larger diameter specifically for coupler insertion, ensuring reliable coupling with reduced deformation force. The resilient portion has smaller dimensions for compactness but does not bear the coupling function, thus avoiding high deformation force requirements.
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 design enables easier assembly and secure coupling of the coil spring to the holder, even when the spring is downsized, by ensuring the coupler is inserted readily and the spring is securely held, reducing the assembly force and maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient portion (122) having a first diameter defined by a first central axis (O) that is hypothetical
Data Source
AI summary
A coil spring includes a resilient portion having a first diameter defined by a first central axis that is hypothetical and an end coil abutting on one end of the resilient portion in an axial direction of the resilient portion. The end coil has a second diameter defined by a second central axis that is hypothetical and shifted from the first central axis of the resilient portion in parallelism with the first central axis of the resilient portion by a predetermined shift amount. A coupler has a first width that is smaller than the first diameter of the resilient portion and greater than a second width obtained by subtracting the predetermined shift amount from the first diameter of the resilient portion. The coupler is inserted into the end coil to secure the end coil to the coupler.