Concentric Ring Articulated Joint for Wear and Lubrication Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guide members with a single ring suffer from short lubrication intervals and reduced lifespan due to localized wear and corrosion, especially under high pressure and stress conditions.
Innovation Solution
An articulated component with three concentric rings, featuring five friction surfaces and sealing means to prevent lubricant leakage, with surface treatments and coatings for enhanced wear resistance and lubrication, allowing for a lubricant reserve and increased wear surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-ring design is used, then the structure remains simple and compact, but the service life is reduced due to localized wear and short lubrication intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The single ring is segmented into three concentric rings (outer ring, intermediate ring, inner ring) that can rotate relative to each other. This segmentation creates multiple friction interfaces (first between outer and intermediate rings, second between intermediate and inner rings) that distribute wear across multiple surfaces instead of concentrating it on a single interface, thereby extending service life while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane friction interface to a multi-layer concentric structure with wear surfaces distributed across different radial dimensions. The three rings create wear surfaces at different levels, effectively utilizing the radial dimension to increase total wear surface area without significantly increasing the overall footprint of the component
2Reliability
If lubrication is provided between the ring and axle, then wear resistance improves, but lubricant leakage reduces effectiveness and requires frequent replenishment
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing means are installed in advance at the ends of the rings to prevent lubricant leakage before it occurs. The sealing means create a closed system that retains the lubricant within the friction interfaces, ensuring continuous lubrication without requiring frequent monitoring or replenishment, thereby maintaining wear resistance over extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing means act as an intermediary element between the lubricant and the external environment. These seals prevent the lubricant from escaping the friction interfaces while allowing the component to operate normally, thus mediating between the need for lubrication and the tendency toward leakage
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
The component exhibits significantly improved lifespan, with wear distributed across multiple surfaces, extending service life by at least five times compared to a single-ring design, while maintaining a compact and simple structure.
Implementation Method 1
The component according to the invention comprises sealing means on opposite sides of the component adapted to prevent leakage of lubricant out of the friction interface
Implementation Method 2
The friction interfaces between the rings receiving a lubricant, and at least one of the friction surfaces comprising arrangements adapted to act as a lubricant reserve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a single-degree-of-freedom articulated component (1), comprising at least two concentric rings (10, 20), movable in rotation relative to each other around a central axis, defining a friction interface (40) between them, and including: an outer ring (10) having an internal friction surface (12), and an inner ring (20) having an external friction surface (22) and an internal friction surface (24) provided to receive a movable element guided by the component (1) in rotation, oscillation and/or translation.