Drive Belt Hook Structure for Secure Element Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drive belt configuration is prone to disengagement due to elongation or abrasion, leading to relative displacement between elements, which can result in detachment from the hoop, especially under vibrational influences.
Innovation Solution
The drive belt design incorporates a hoop with an inner and outer peripheral surface, and elements featuring first and second hooks with displacement-restriction surfaces, ensuring secure assembly and preventing detachment by restricting relative movement between the elements and the hoop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only one large first hook and one small second hook are provided per element, then assembly of the element and hoop is easy, but the element may detach from the hoop under vibration or when the hoop elongates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the first hook significantly larger than the second hook. The first hook has a large opening width that allows easy insertion of the hoop during assembly, while the second hook has a small opening width that prevents detachment. This asymmetric design resolves the contradiction by assigning different functional roles to hooks of different sizes within the same element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different hook sizes at different locations (first pillar vs. second pillar) within the same element. The first hook at one location is designed for easy assembly with large opening, while the second hook at another location is designed for secure retention with small opening. This localized differentiation allows the element to simultaneously achieve ease of assembly and reliable retention.
2Reliability
If the opening width between hooks is made small to prevent detachment, then reliability improves, but the hoop cannot be easily inserted during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through asymmetry by designing the first hook with a large opening width for easy hoop insertion, while the second hook has a small opening width for secure retention. The asymmetric configuration allows the element to facilitate assembly at one location while preventing detachment at another location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the retention function into two separate hooks with different characteristics. The first hook segments the assembly function (large opening for insertion), while the second hook segments the retention function (small opening for prevention of detachment). This functional segmentation allows both ease of assembly and reliable retention to coexist.
3Adaptability or versatility
If elements are allowed to displace relative to each other due to hoop elongation or abrasion, then flexibility is maintained, but the elements may detach under vibrational influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing displacement restriction surfaces on the hooks that proactively prevent relative displacement between elements before vibration or hoop elongation can cause detachment. These surfaces create preliminary mechanical constraints that counteract the tendency of elements to shift under operational conditions, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing controlled flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the hooks and displacement restriction surfaces to establish stable element positioning in advance of any problematic movement. The geometric constraints are built into the assembly structure beforehand, ensuring that even if the hoop elongates or vibrates, the elements remain properly positioned and secured without requiring active correction during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive belt includes a hoop and multiple elements joined together in a loop by the hoop. Each element has an assembly space into which one end portion of the hoop is inserted during assembly. Each element is configured such that a first opening width, which is a distance between a first hook and a second hook, is less than a width of the hoop, and a second opening width, which is a distance between the second hook and a contact site where the one end portion of the hoop housed in the assembly space contacts a first pillar, is greater than the width of the hoop. The first hook and the second hook respectively include a first displacement-restriction surface and a second displacement-restriction surface each configured to restrict relative displacement between the element and the hoop by contacting a corresponding one of edges of the hoop.