Elastomeric Tension Spring for Automatic Barrier Return
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current return mechanisms in headlock barriers for livestock enclosures do not offer an optimal compromise between ease of maneuvering and efficient automatic return, and often use metal parts that can break and pose a risk to animals.
Innovation Solution
A barrier structure equipped with a tension spring made of elastomeric material, which is deformed into an elongated configuration to exert a traction force on a pivotally mounted containment rocker, ensuring automatic return to the open position after deactivation of locking means, and is designed to be safe and economical with adjustable elastic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal return mechanisms are used, then the automatic return function is achieved, but the risk of breakage and injury to animals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional metal mechanical return mechanisms with an elastomeric material-based system. The elastomeric material provides the necessary elastic force for automatic return without the brittleness and breakage risks of metal components, directly addressing the safety concern while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs elastomeric material (a composite or polymer material) instead of conventional metal materials for the return mechanism. This material substitution provides both the required mechanical properties for automatic return and improved safety characteristics by eliminating sharp, breakable metal parts that could injure animals.
2Ease of operation
If traditional return mechanisms are used, then automatic return is achieved, but the compromise between ease of maneuvering and return efficiency is not optimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the elastic characteristics of the elastomeric material to achieve the right balance between maneuverability and return efficiency. By adjusting parameters such as elastomeric compound formulation, cross-linking density, and geometric dimensions, the mechanism provides easy manual operation while ensuring reliable and efficient automatic return.
3Reliability
If complex return mechanisms are used, then return reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of the return mechanism (providing elastic restoring force) and implements it through a simplified elastomeric component rather than a complex assembly of metal parts. This reduction in complexity lowers manufacturing difficulty and cost while maintaining or improving reliability through the inherent properties of elastomeric materials.
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 provides a safe, efficient, and cost-effective mechanism for the containment rocker to automatically return to the open position, minimizing the risk of injury to animals and ensuring optimal maneuvering, while being simple to manufacture and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
a tension spring, made of elastomeric material and comprising two ends: - an inner end, fixed to said contention balance, and - an outer end, fixed to the window frame; this traction spring is arranged so as to be deformed into an elongated (or stretched) configuration when the containment rocker is moved into the closed position, to exert a traction force on said containment rocker ensuring its automatic return to the position of opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The barrier (1) has a contention walking beam (7) including a return unit provided with an extension spring (14) made of elastomer material. An inner end of the spring is fixed on the beam, while an outer end of the spring is fixed to a vertical chassis (2). The spring is arranged in a manner to be deformed along a stretched configuration when the beam is displaced into a closed position for exerting traction force on the beam assuring its automatic return to an open position according to deactivation of a locking unit (11).