Dental Prophy Angle Snap-Fit Limiting Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental prophy angles have cumbersome assembly processes due to glued or bolted connections, leading to increased complexity and production costs.
Innovation Solution
A dental prophy angle design featuring a housing, driving assembly with bevel gears, and limiting members for snap connection and position stabilization, eliminating the need for bolted connections and reducing accessory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional glued or bolted connections are used to assemble the dental prophy angle, then the connection strength is sufficient, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the driving shaft and limiting member into an integrated structure where the limiting member is formed as an integral part of the driving shaft. This merging eliminates the need for separate bolts or glue, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining connection strength through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving shaft is designed with self-limiting features where protrusions on the driving shaft automatically engage with corresponding grooves in the housing during assembly. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external fastening components, simplifying the assembly process while ensuring proper positioning and connection strength.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional bolted connections are used to fix the driving shaft, then the position stability is achieved, but the number of accessories increases and production cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting member is merged with the driving shaft as an integral structure, eliminating the need for separate positioning accessories. The combined structure provides both driving function and position limitation without requiring additional components, thus reducing the quantity of accessories while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the position limitation function from separate fastening components and integrates it directly into the driving shaft structure. By taking out the need for external limiting accessories and incorporating the limiting features into the driving shaft itself, the design reduces accessory quantity while achieving the same position stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple limiting structures and accessories are used to secure the driving shaft, then the position limitation is enhanced, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple limiting functions are merged into a single integrated driving shaft structure with built-in protrusions and engagement features. This consolidation provides enhanced position limitation through multiple engagement points without requiring multiple separate accessories, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and production cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving shaft is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides rotation drive, position limitation, and alignment functions through its integrated structure. This universality eliminates the need for multiple specialized accessories, reducing production cost while maintaining enhanced position limitation through the multi-functional design.
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 installation, reduces production costs, and enhances stability through the use of bevel gears and limiting structures, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective dental prophy angle.
Implementation Method 1
a gearing connection position between the first driving shaft and the second driving shaft are respectively provided with a first gear and a second gear; The first gear and the second gear are bevel gears engaged to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A dental prophy angle includes a housing, a driving assembly, a first limiting member, a second limiting member, and a prophy cup, where the driving assembly includes a first driving shaft and a second driving shaft; the second driving shaft comprises one end connected to the first driving shaft by a gearing connection, and the other end provided with the prophy cup; and the first limiting member is sleeved on the first driving shaft and locates between the first driving shaft and an inner wall of the housing, and the second limiting member is sleeved on the second driving shaft and locates between the second driving shaft and the inner wall of the housing, to play a position limiting role and prevent the first driving shaft from falling out. The first limiting member is in snap connection with the housing for fixation, which makes the installation simple.