Cutting Wire Weak-Point Structure for Predictable Breakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cutting wires used in wire cutting machines for materials like cement, marble, and stone are prone to unpredictable breaking due to rope wear, leading to safety risks for operators and increased costs due to unpredictable behavior post-breakage.

Innovation Solution

A cutting wire design featuring a core with a weak cable having strategically placed weakened portions and strong cables, where the weak cable's weakened sections concentrate wear and tear, allowing for precise identification of the breaking point, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the need for extensive safety equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a uniform rope structure is used in the cutting wire, then the construction is simple and easy to manufacture, but the breaking point is unpredictable causing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpredictability of breaking point
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a weak cable with differentiated sections - a first section with normal strength and a second section with reduced strength (weakened portion). This allows the rope to have non-uniform properties where specific locations are designed to be weaker, ensuring predictable breaking points while maintaining overall structural integrity for normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the cutting wire breaks at an unpredictable location, then the wire splits into two branches with unpredictable behavior, but implementing extensive safety equipment increases costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of breaking pointVSAvoidsafety equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-designating a specific weakened portion in the cable before use. This predetermined weak point ensures that when the cable does break, it will do so at a known, predictable location rather than randomly anywhere along the cable, thereby reducing the need for extensive safety equipment and measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If compression springs or polymer cylinders are placed between rings to prevent sliding, then the rings are secured, but the rope wear still causes unpredictable breaking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvering position stabilityVSAvoidbreaking point predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cable into distinct sections - a first section with normal strength and a second section with a weakened portion. This segmentation allows the system to maintain stable ring positions through springs or cylinders while simultaneously creating a predictable breaking point in the weakened section, resolving the contradiction between stability and predictability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3711884B1Cutting wire
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 M E C I SRL
  • EP3711884B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A cutting wire (1) is provided, defining a longitudinal axis (1a) and comprising cables (2a, 2b) defining a core (2) of the cutting wire (1); cutting inserts (3) bound to said core (2); the cables (2a, 2b) comprise at least one weak cable (2a) comprising a weakened portion (2c) suitable to define, for the core (2), a section with lower mechanical strength, and therefore a breaking section of the cutting wire (1).