Feed Device Form-Locking Element for Cleaning Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe cleaning devices face challenges in efficiently advancing the cleaning spiral during rotation due to limitations in the design of feed devices, which can lead to inadequate engagement with spirals of varying designs and increased frictional forces.
Innovation Solution
The feed device features a pivotable form-fitting element that aligns with the spiral's turns, allowing for reliable engagement without rotational movement about the longitudinal axis, reducing frictional forces by using cylindrical elements that act as counter bearings, and employing a positive locking mechanism to advance the spiral.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cylindrical feed elements are used to advance the cleaning spiral, then the cleaning spiral can be propelled during rotation, but frictional forces increase and engagement reliability decreases for spirals with varying designs
Solution Approach 1:
The feed element is designed with a pivotable form-locking part that can dynamically adjust its orientation to align with the spiral turns of the cleaning spiral. This dynamic adaptation allows the form-locking part to maintain reliable engagement with spirals of varying designs and orientations, resolving the contradiction between feed efficiency and engagement reliability.
2Productivity
If form-locking elements are pressed against the cleaning spiral to generate feed, then propulsion is achieved, but the elements cannot adapt to spirals with differently designed and aligned windings
Solution Approach 1:
The form-locking part is mounted to pivot about an axis running in the direction of the through-opening, allowing it to automatically align itself with the course of the spiral turns when pressed against them. This dynamic pivoting capability enables the feed device to effectively advance cleaning spirals with different winding orientations and designs while maintaining reliable form-locking engagement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a feed device (1) for a cleaning spring (6) of a pipe-cleaning device which can rotate about its longitudinal axis (5). The feed device (1) has a main body (2) and a guide-through opening (4) arranged in the main body (2), through which the cleaning spring (6) can be guided, lengthways in a longitudinal direction (7) of the guide-through opening (4). The feed device (1) has at least two feed elements (8) arranged on the main body (2) such that they are secured in the longitudinal direction (7), which can be pressed onto the cleaning spring (6) in the guide-through opening (4) in such a way that a feeding through of the cleaning spring (6) is generated when said cleaning spring (6) rotates. At least one of the feed elements (8) is configured as an interlocking element (9) and has an interlocking part (11) oriented in the direction of the guide-through opening (4). The interlocking part (11) engages into the cleaning spring (6) interlockingly between windings (12) of the cleaning spring (6), if the feed element (8) is pressed onto the cleaning spring (6).