Damped Self-Centering Mechanism for Block Grabber Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Energy storage systems face challenges in aligning blocks accurately due to misalignment caused by wind forces or other factors, leading to difficulties in removing and reinserting grabber arms into block openings, which results in excessive force transfer and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A damped self-centering mechanism is integrated into the grabber arms, featuring leaf springs or levers distributed around the circumference, which deflect upon contact to absorb contact forces and facilitate self-centering, reducing the reaction force and enabling smooth alignment and disalignment of blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the grabber arms are extended through the bores to align blocks, then the blocks can be stacked, but misalignment causes excessive force transfer that may damage the grabber or blocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage preventionVSAvoidcontact force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a damped self-centering mechanism at the distal portion of the grabber arms. This mechanism includes damping elements (such as viscoelastic materials, rubber, or spring-damper systems) that are pre-installed to absorb and dissipate contact forces before they can cause damage to the grabber arms or blocks during alignment operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The damped self-centering mechanism acts as an intermediary between the grabber arm and the block. This intermediate structure with its damping properties mediates the interaction, reducing the direct force transfer while still enabling the alignment function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the grabber arms are rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to inability to self-center

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The grabber arm is segmented into distinct functional zones: a rigid proximal portion for structural integrity and a distal portion with self-centering capability for precision alignment. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the other

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making only the distal portion of the grabber arm possess self-centering characteristics through the damped mechanism, while the main body remains rigid. This localized modification provides alignment precision exactly where needed without sacrificing overall structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the grabber arms are made flexible to enable self-centering, then alignment precision is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damped self-centering mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rigid grabber arm and the block, enabling alignment precision without requiring the entire arm to be flexible, thus preserving structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 damped self-centering mechanism effectively reduces the force required for alignment and disalignment, preventing damage to the grabber and blocks, while ensuring precise stacking and unstacking of blocks in energy storage systems.

Implementation Method 1

The damped mechanism comprises one or more leaf springs distributed about at least a portion of the circumference of the distal portion of the grabber, the one or more leaf springs configured to resiliently deflect when contacting a surface or edge of the block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A distal portion of the grabber comprises a damped mechanism that facilitates the self-centering of the one or more arms relative to the corresponding one or more bores or openings in the block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

The damped mechanism comprises one or more levers distributed about at least a portion of the circumference of the distal portion of the grabber, the one or more levers being resiliently coupled to the distal portion and configured to resiliently deflect when contacting a surface or edge of the block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

A distal portion of the grabber comprises a damped mechanism that facilitates the self-centering of the one or more arms relative to the corresponding one or more bores or openings in the block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11820629B2Damped self-centering mechanism

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 ENERGY VAULT INC

AI summary

A grabber used, for example in the lifting and lowering of blocks, includes one or more arms with a damped self-centering mechanism at a distal end thereof. The damped self-centering mechanism dampen a contact force received thereon and facilitates a self-centering of the damped self-centering mechanism relative to a surface of, for example, a block when the grabber is moved relative to the block (e.g., when the arms are lowered through bores in the block).