Drain Cleaning Machine Lead Frame Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain cleaning machines have complex structures due to the need for both flexible-shaft locking and telescoping control mechanisms, leading to high manufacturing costs and bulky sizes, which complicates portability and user operation.
Innovation Solution
A drain cleaning machine with a simplified locking structure using a lead frame with an outer cylinder that drives a slider to rotate a rotary member, allowing for locking or releasing of the flexible shaft through forward and reverse rotation, enhancing stability and user operation while maintaining locking strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both flexible-shaft locking mechanism and flexible-shaft telescoping control mechanism are provided, then locking function and telescoping control function are achieved, but structure becomes complex and machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking mechanism and telescoping control mechanism into a single integrated lead frame structure. The outer cylinder serves dual functions: it acts as both the locking structure (through its interaction with the slider and rotary member) and the telescoping control structure (through its rotation-driven advancement and retraction of the flexible shaft). This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, thereby reducing structural complexity and machine size while maintaining both locking and telescoping control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead frame is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides locking capability and telescoping control. The outer cylinder, when rotated forwardly, drives the slider to lock the flexible shaft; when rotated reversely, it releases the lock and enables telescoping. This universal design allows a single structure to perform multiple functions that were previously required separate mechanisms, thus simplifying the overall device while enhancing adaptability.
2Strength
If a resilient locking piece and locking ring are used for locking, then locking strength is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and manufacture cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex resilient locking piece and locking ring assembly from the design. Instead, it employs a simplified locking structure where the outer cylinder's rotation directly actuates a slider that engages with a rotary member to lock or release the flexible shaft. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining adequate locking strength through the streamlined mechanical engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the locking mechanism from a complex resilient piece system to a rotation-driven slider system. By utilizing the rotational motion of the outer cylinder to directly control the slider's position and the rotary member's engagement, the design achieves locking strength through parameter-driven mechanical advantage rather than through complex component assembly, thereby reducing manufacture cost and simplifying the structure.
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 simplifies the machine's structure, improves the stability and ease of operation by allowing smooth advancement and retraction of the flexible shaft, and enhances locking strength, thus improving user experience and portability.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic member is configurable to be deformed when the slider drives the rotary member to move towards the flexible shaft, and configurable to drive, via the slider, the rotary member to move opposite the flexible shaft when the abutting section releases the slider
Data Source
AI summary
A drain cleaning machine including a machine body with a drive assembly, rotary drum having a flexible shaft wound therein, and lead frame guiding the flexible shaft to advance and retract; the lead frame includes an inner base, outer cylinder, and locking structures; the lead frame includes an inner base, an outer cylinder, and locking structures; each locking structure includes a slider, a rotary member, and an elastic member; the outer cylinder is provided with abutting sections. The drain cleaning machine reasonably simplifies the structure of the lead frame by reasonably setting the specific structures of the lead frame and the locking structures, where the slider may drive the rotary member to move towards or away from the flexible shaft via forward/reverse rotation of the outer cylinder, which facilitates user operation.