Segmented Energy Chain for Low-Friction Loop Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy chains are unsuitable for guiding strands in a loop configuration, especially when storing multiple loops, as they experience high frictional forces during movement and storage, making it difficult to manage and store efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The energy chain design incorporates a first chain section with guide elements and a second chain section with roller or sliding elements, where the second chain section's width is minimized to allow smooth passage over guide tracks, enabling reduced friction and efficient guidance along external tracks, and can be connected in an articulated manner to facilitate storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the energy chain is designed with guide elements for external guidance, then the guidance function is improved, but the width of the chain increases making it difficult to store in compact spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The energy chain is divided into two distinct chain sections: a first chain section with guide elements for external guidance, and a second chain section without guide elements for compact storage. This segmentation allows each section to have optimized characteristics for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between guidance capability and storage compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the energy chain are given different properties: the first chain section has guide elements protruding from its side parts for external guidance, while the second chain section has a reduced width without guide elements for compact storage. This local differentiation allows the chain to achieve both guidance functionality and space efficiency in different regions.
2Ease of operation
If the chain links are made wider to accommodate guide elements, then external guidance is improved, but the frictional forces during movement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy chain is segmented into a first chain section with guide elements for external guidance and a second chain section without guide elements. By separating these functions into different sections, the patent reduces the overall frictional resistance during movement while maintaining the necessary guidance capability where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements are extracted and placed only on the first chain section, allowing the second chain section to have a reduced width and consequently lower frictional forces during movement. This extraction resolves the contradiction by localizing the guidance function to only where it is necessary.
3Ease of manufacture
If the energy chain is designed as a single uniform section, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot be efficiently stored in compact spaces when configured as loops
Solution Approach 1:
The energy chain is divided into a first chain section with guide elements and a second chain section without guide elements. This segmentation enables the chain to be efficiently stored in compact spaces when configured as loops, while still maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through modular assembly of the two sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy chain is designed with two different chain sections that can be articulated to each other, allowing the chain to dynamically adapt its configuration. This dynamic design enables efficient compact storage when configured as loops while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized modular components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the second chain section has the same width as the first chain section, then structural uniformity is maintained, but it cannot pass smoothly over guide tracks during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The chain links are designed with different widths for different sections: the first chain section has a larger width with guide elements for structural stability, while the second chain section has a reduced width for smooth passage over guide tracks. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between structural uniformity and movement smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy chain is segmented into a first chain section with full width and guide elements for structural stability, and a second chain section with reduced width for smooth movement over guide tracks. This segmentation allows each section to have optimized dimensions for its specific functional requirements.
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
This design reduces frictional forces during movement and storage, allowing the energy chain to be easily guided and stored with minimal tensile or compressive force, enhancing the efficiency of storing and retrieving the chain in a storage unit.
Implementation Method 1
roller elements or sliding elements which protrude beyond the upper or lower narrow surfaces of their side parts and can roll or slide on an area opposite these narrow surfaces that contacts the energy chain
Implementation Method 2
roller elements or sliding elements which protrude beyond the upper or lower narrow surfaces of their side parts and can roll or slide on an area opposite these narrow surfaces that contacts the energy chain
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~8
Figure 9~13
AI summary
An energy chain and storage unit for an energy chain (1) has a first chain portion (3) and a second chain portion (5), wherein the chain links (2) of the first chain portion and the chain links (4) of the second chain portion are connected to one another in a pivotable manner and comprise in each case two side parts (6, 7), which are located opposite one another in a transverse direction (q) in relation to the longitudinal direction (l) of the energy chain and have upper and lower narrow surfaces (8), which are oriented perpendicularly to the transverse direction (q) and to the longitudinal direction (l), wherein at least some of the chain links (2) of the first chain portion (3) have guide elements (12), which project outwards in the transverse direction (q) from the side parts (6, 7) of the chain links and are intended for guiding on guide tracks (35), which are arranged on the outside of the side parts of the chain links, and at least some of the chain links (4) of the second chain portion (5) have roller elements (13) or sliding elements (14), which project beyond the upper or the lower narrow surfaces (8) of the side parts (6, 7) of the chain links and can respectively roll or slide on a region which is located opposite said narrow surfaces (8) and establishes contact with the energy chain (1).