Conical Collar and Rigid Ring for Dental Muffle Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatus for manufacturing dental prosthetic parts muffles are complex in manufacture and handling, with screw connections and bayonet fastenings being inefficient, particularly in preventing unintentional release during investment material hardening.

Innovation Solution

A conically designed collar with a rigid ring holding mechanism, where the collar and ring have smooth conical surfaces with an angle of inclination less than 8°, and a multi-part collar system for easier assembly and size adaptation, using plastic and metal materials for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screw connection or bayonet fastening is used for holding means, then the collar can be assembled, but the structure becomes complex and unintentional release cannot be prevented during investment material hardening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of unintentional releaseVSAvoidcomplexity of holding means

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar and ring are designed with conical surfaces instead of cylindrical ones. The conical shape creates a self-locking mechanism where the expansion force of the investment material during hardening presses the ring tighter against the collar, preventing unintentional release while simplifying the holding means structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The angle of the conical surface is specifically designed to be less than 8 degrees. This parameter optimization ensures that the frictional force generated by the conical interface is sufficient to prevent ring release during investment material hardening, while still allowing easy manual assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cylindrical collar design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the holding means cannot prevent collar opening during hardening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollar closure stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of conical surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conical surfaces of the collar and ring can be manufactured using standard turning or molding operations. The continuous conical convergence from the central region to both ends creates a reliable self-locking mechanism that prevents collar opening during hardening, while remaining compatible with conventional manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If single-piece collar is used, then structure is simple, but inspection of pattern positioning is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of pattern positionVSAvoidnumber of collar parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into multiple peripheral sections (at least two, preferably three) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows operators to visually inspect pattern positioning through the gaps between sections before final assembly, ensuring correct placement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If smooth conical surfaces are used, then ring release is simplified, but unintentional release due to expansion force may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of ring releaseVSAvoidprevention of unintentional release

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conical surface angle is optimized to be less than 8 degrees. This shallow angle creates sufficient frictional retention to prevent unintentional release during investment material hardening, while still allowing easy manual release when needed. The smooth surface finish further facilitates intentional release without requiring excessive force.

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

Simplifies the manufacturing and handling process by preventing unintentional release during investment material hardening, allowing for efficient production and inspection of dental prosthesis patterns, while reducing material usage and optimizing force distribution.

Implementation Method 1

By selecting an angle of inclination of smaller than 8° to the longitudinal axis of the collar, an unintentional release of the rings due to the expansion force of the investment compound can be prevented by frictional retaining despite smooth surfaces.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7507080B2Apparatus for the manufacture of muffles for the production of dental prosthetic parts

Publication Date: 2009.03.24 DEKEMA DENTAL KERAMIKOFEN GMBH

AI summary

An apparatus for manufacturing muffles for producing dental prosthetic parts comprises a collar divided at least once in the peripheral direction to form a receiving space for an investment material in which at least one pattern for a dental prosthetic part is arranged before the filling with the investment material. At least one pattern holder simultaneously serves as a spacer for an injection plunger passage and a base part closes an open side of the collar. Holding means encompasses the collar to hold the collar together, with the collar being conical with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof at least in one section for simpler manufacture and better handling. The holding means includes at least one ring, in particular a rigid ring, which has a conical inner surface with which it is pushed onto the conical section in the collar.