Video Endoscope Brake Spring for Stable Rotation and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video endoscopes face issues with the degradation of elastomer seals used for annular elastic braking elements, leading to changes in sliding properties over time, making rotation more difficult and compromising the sealing effectiveness against moisture and dirt ingress.
Innovation Solution
The use of a circumferentially wound helical spring as an annular elastic braking element, which maintains stable sliding and sealing properties despite mechanical, thermal, and chemical influences, combined with a non-round winding cross-section and specific gap dimensions to prevent rolling and ensure effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastomer seals are used as annular elastic braking elements, then initial sealing and sliding properties are adequate, but sliding properties change over time due to degradation from mechanical, thermal, and chemical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from elastomer to metal (spring steel), fundamentally altering the physical and chemical properties to resist degradation. This material substitution maintains reliable sliding properties throughout the service life by eliminating the degradation mechanisms that affect elastomers under mechanical, thermal, and chemical stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking element combines metal spring material with elastomeric coating or treatment, creating a composite structure that provides both the dimensional stability and sliding reliability of metal while retaining some sealing characteristics. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between reliability and durability.
2Reliability
If gaps are provided between mutually rotatable parts for sealing, then moisture and dirt ingress is prevented, but cleaning during reprocessing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the elastomeric coating on the metal braking element as a flexible sealing film that conforms to the gap geometry, providing effective sealing against moisture and dirt while allowing the underlying metal structure to maintain cleanability. The flexible film fills irregularities in the gap without creating permanent trapped zones.
3Ease of operation
If annular elastic braking elements are used to adjust rotation torque, then comfortable and safe operation is ensured, but sealing rings provide only limited protection against moisture and dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the braking element multi-functional by combining the torque adjustment function with enhanced sealing capability. The metal spring structure provides friction control for comfortable operation, while the elastomeric coating or treatment adds sealing protection, eliminating the need for separate sealing rings and improving overall reliability.
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 helical spring provides long-term stability and consistent sliding behavior, maintaining effective sealing against moisture and dirt while reducing the impact of environmental stresses, ensuring comfortable and secure operation of the video endoscope.
Implementation Method 1
the coils of the helical spring slide along a contact surface of the first grip element and/or a contact surface of the second grip element upon rotation of the second grip element relative to the main body
Implementation Method 2
at least one annular elastic braking element which is further developed in that the at least one annular elastic braking element comprises a helical spring
Implementation Method 3
The coils of the helical spring slide along a contact surface of the first grip element and/or a contact surface of the second grip element upon rotation of the second grip element relative to the main body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4~5c
AI summary
The invention relates to a video endoscope (1) having a lateral viewing direction and comprising: an elongate shaft (2) having a proximal end and a distal end, a lens (3) arranged in the region of the distal end of the shaft, an electronic image converter arranged proximally in relation to the lens (3), and a main body (10) arranged at the proximal end of the shaft (2), a first grip element (11) being arranged on the main body (10), which first grip element is rotationally fixed in relation to the shaft (2) and the main body (10) and is used to rotate the shaft (2) and the main body (10) about a longitudinal axis (5) of the shaft (2) in order to change the viewing direction of the video endoscope (1), a second grip element (12) being arranged on the main body (10), which second grip element is rotatable in relation to the shaft (2) and the main body (10) about a longitudinal axis (5) of the shaft (2) and is used to keep a horizontal position of the electronic image converter constant when the viewing direction of the video endoscope (1) is changed by rotation of the first grip element (11), and at least one annular elastic brake element (21, 22) being arranged between the second grip element (12) and the main body (10) and/or the first grip element (11). The video endoscope (1) is characterised in that the at least one annular elastic brake element (21, 22) comprises a coil spring (30), which is wound in the circumferential direction and has windings (31) which are oriented such that an area vector (32) of an area (33) spanned by an individual winding (31) points substantially in the circumferential direction of the brake element (21). An elastic, annular brake element (21, 22) for a video endoscope (1) is also disclosed.