Curved Coupling Assembly for Misalignment Without Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling units for personal care devices face challenges in efficiently transmitting rotary driving force while allowing for misalignment between components, leading to potential disassembly and vibration issues during use.
Innovation Solution
A coupling unit design featuring a first coupling member with a curved bearing surface and a second coupling member with curved bearing surface segments, connected by elastically deformable elements that provide biasing forces to ensure engagement and prevent disassembly, allowing for rotation and pivoting while accommodating misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a coupling unit allows misalignment between coupling members, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential disassembly and vibration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling unit employs curved bearing surfaces instead of flat surfaces. The first coupling member has a curved first bearing surface, and the second coupling member has curved second bearing surface segments that engage the first bearing surface. This curvature allows the coupling members to accommodate misalignment while maintaining stable engagement and preventing disassembly during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastic deformation of connecting elements to change the physical state of the coupling unit. The connecting elements can elastically deform to allow passage of carrying elements during assembly, then return to their original state to provide biasing forces that maintain engagement and prevent disassembly during use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a coupling unit uses multiple bearing surface segments, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second bearing surface is divided into multiple curved second bearing surface segments, each provided on a separate carrying element. This segmentation allows each segment to independently engage the first bearing surface, accommodating misalignment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular carrying elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements serve multiple functions: they connect the carrying elements to the main coupling body, allow elastic deformation during assembly to enable passage of carrying elements, and provide biasing forces during operation to maintain engagement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
3Reliability
If a coupling unit provides strong biasing forces to prevent disassembly, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting elements are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing their mechanical properties to change dynamically. During assembly, they can deform to a second state that provides a second biasing force larger than the first, enabling carrying elements to pass along the blocking element. During operation, they return to their original state to provide appropriate biasing forces that prevent disassembly without making assembly impossible.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking element is positioned to prevent passage of carrying elements under normal conditions, but the elastic deformability of connecting elements allows preliminary deformation during assembly to enable passage. Once assembled, the blocking element resumes its blocking function to prevent disassembly during operation.
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 solution enables secure transmission of rotary driving force, prevents inadvertent disassembly, and reduces vibrations, facilitating easy assembly and use in personal care devices like epilators and shavers.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the at least two connecting elements comprises an elastically deformable material in a first deformed condition providing a first biasing force urging the at least two second bearing surface segments into contact with the first bearing surface
Implementation Method 2
the elastically deformable material is provided such that, in a second deformed condition of the elastically deformable material, the elastically deformable material provides a second biasing force larger than the first biasing force and the at least two carrying elements are able to pass along the blocking element
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a coupling unit (100) for transmission of a rotary driving force, comprising a first coupling member (110) having a curved first bearing surface (116) and a second coupling member (150) having a main coupling body (154) and a curved second bearing surface engaging the first bearing surface thereby enabling rotation of the second coupling member (150) relative to the first coupling member (110). The second coupling member comprises at least two carrying elements (158) which are each provided with a respective one of at least two second bearing surface segments (160) of the second bearing surface that engage the first bearing surface. At least two connecting elements (156) of the second coupling member (150) each connect a respective one of the at least two carrying elements (158) with the main coupling body (154) and comprise an elastically deformable material. In a first deformed condition the elastically deformable material provides a first biasing force urging the at least two second bearing surface segments (160) into contact with the first bearing surface. A blocking element (120) of the first coupling member (110) is arranged between the first bearing surface (116) and the main coupling body (154) and is configured to prevent passage of the carrying elements (158) along the blocking element at least in the first deformed condition. In a second deformed condition of the elastically deformable material, wherein the elastically deformable material provides a second biasing force larger than the first biasing force, the carrying elements (158) are able to pass along the blocking element.