Machine Tool Protective Cover Sagging Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Protective covers for machine tools, especially in overhead applications, face sagging issues due to heavy loads, which compromise the protective function as slats lose contact in the middle area, requiring complex and costly additional lamellae or folds for counteracting weight.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating V-shaped leaf spring elements made of plastic between crossbeams, oriented perpendicular to the extension direction, which act as prestressing elements to prevent sagging and maintain slat contact without external lamellae or folds, using rivet or button connections for attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional counter-lamellae or U-profiles are attached to the outside of the cover to prevent sagging, then the protective function is maintained, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding external counter-lamellae or U-profiles to the outside of the cover to prevent sagging, the patent inverts the approach by integrating prestressing elements directly into the crossbeams themselves. The prestressing elements are built-in features of the crossbeams that apply continuous compressive force to counteract the sagging effect of gravity, thereby maintaining the protective function without increasing external structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the structural function of the crossbeams with the prestressing function by integrating prestressing elements directly into the crossbeam design. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate external counter-lamellae or U-profiles, reducing device complexity while maintaining the protective function against sagging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If additional counter-lamellae or U-profiles are attached to the outside of the cover to prevent sagging, then the protective function is maintained, but the manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the protective cover is made lighter by using fewer or lighter components, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to counteract sagging under heavy loads is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidload bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of the prestressing force by integrating elements that apply continuous compressive force to the crossbeams. This prestressing counteracts the tensile stresses caused by sagging under heavy loads, allowing the cover to maintain adequate load-bearing capacity and protective function even with a lighter overall structure

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 solution effectively compensates for forces causing sagging, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances damping and vibration resistance, allowing for lighter and more cost-effective protective covers with larger spans without the need for additional lamellae or folds.

Implementation Method 1

V-shaped leaf spring elements should be provided in cross section, particularly in their relaxed position, between adjacent crossbeams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a pretension is therefore required, which counteracts the weight and ensures that the overlapping slats are prevented from sagging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrestress: Tension

Implementation Method 3

the crossbars of the protective cover experience damping when they are pulled together and that the protective cover is pulled out by relaxing the connecting elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2570235B1Protective cover for machine tools without bellows

Publication Date: 2013.11.20 MOELLER WERKE GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The protective cover (1) has movable plates (2) that are arranged right angle to extending direction (X). The movable plates are provided with crossbeams (3) which are arranged in parallel. The crossed beams are connected together in an exterior portion. Leaf spring elements (4) are centrally between two adjacent crossbeams, vertically to longitudinal direction of crossbeam and vertical to break line extending direction so as to form V-shaped cross-sectional area. The leaf spring elements are made of polypropylene, polyethylene and polypropylene copolymer.