Endoscope Camera Head With Exposed Rotation Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing endoscope camera heads are difficult to clean due to the coupler rotation-sliding surface being concealed, making it challenging to clean the portion between the coupler and casing surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope camera head design includes first and second members that rotate relative to each other about a first axis, with the first member having an annular first rotation-sliding surface and the second member engaging with it, exposing a part of the first rotation-sliding surface outside, and featuring a concave or convex portion with a spiral groove to facilitate cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the coupler rotation-sliding surface is concealed with the casing rotation-sliding surface, then the structural integrity and compactness are improved, but the cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation-sliding surface is divided into two distinct surfaces: the first rotation-sliding surface on the coupler and the second rotation-sliding surface on the casing. This segmentation allows the first surface to be exposed for cleaning while the second surface maintains structural coverage, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and cleaning accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The first rotation-sliding surface acts as an intermediary exposed surface that mediates between the need for structural coverage and cleaning accessibility. Cleaning brushes or solutions can access this intermediate surface to clean the interface area without compromising the overall structural integrity provided by the second surface.
2Ease of operation
If the first rotation-sliding surface is exposed outside, then the cleaning accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first rotation-sliding surface serves multiple functions: it provides the sliding interface for rotation, acts as an exposed cleaning surface, and maintains the mechanical connection between coupler and casing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate cleaning structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing separate cleaning access channels or removable covers that would increase complexity, the design inverts the approach by making the functional sliding surface itself accessible for cleaning. This eliminates the need for additional cleaning infrastructure while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning solution can enter between the rotation-sliding surfaces, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of liquid damage to internal components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning access is extracted and directed specifically to the first rotation-sliding surface on the coupler, which is externally accessible. This allows cleaning solution to effectively reach the sliding interface without necessarily penetrating deep into the internal housing, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing liquid damage risk to sensitive internal components.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope camera head 6 includes a first and a second members 8, 9 that are relatively rotatable about a first axis Ax1. The first member 8 has a first rotation-sliding surface 84 that extends in an annular shape about the first axis Ax1 as its center. The second member 9 has a second rotation-sliding surface 93 that engages with the first rotation-sliding surface 84 in a state in which movement to a direction of the first axis Ax1 relative to the first member 8 is restricted, and that rotation-slides relative to the first rotation-sliding surface 84 about the first axis Ax1. The second rotation-sliding surface 93 abuts only on a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84, to expose a part of the first rotation-sliding surface 84 outside.