Fender Assembly with Nested Spring Guide Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fender assemblies are exposed to collisions, dirt, and debris, which can cause damage and fouling of their workings, leading to inefficiency and reduced functionality.

Innovation Solution

A fender assembly with an elongate support attached to a surface, featuring a resilient fender mounted on the support for vertical sliding movement and a biased fender restraining mechanism with a spring guide element to resist downward movement, protecting the components from damage and debris, and fabricated using commercially available steel sections for enhanced durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fender assembly workings are exposed to allow access and simplicity, then ease of operation is improved, but the components become vulnerable to collisions, dirt, and debris causing damage and fouling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to workingsVSAvoidprotection from damage and fouling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing the spring and guide element inside a housing formed by the support structure. The housing contains the biased fender restraining means, protecting these components from external damage and fouling while maintaining their functional integrity. The resilient fender moves within the housing, which shields the internal workings from dirt and debris.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a housing as an intermediary structure that mediates between the external environment and the internal workings. This housing acts as a protective barrier, allowing the fender assembly to maintain reliable protected components while still enabling operational functionality through controlled access points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If a rigid spring guide element is used to resist fender movement, then structural strength is improved, but the assembly becomes vulnerable to plastic deformation from impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strength of guide elementVSAvoidresistance to plastic deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from a rigid guide element to a flexible one. This change in the physical parameter (rigidity) allows the guide element to withstand impact forces without undergoing permanent plastic deformation, while still providing sufficient structural strength to guide and restrain the fender movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible guide element that can elastically deform under impact loads and return to its original shape. This flexibility prevents the permanent deformation that would occur with a rigid element, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the necessary structural strength through elastic rather than plastic behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If custom-made support structures are fabricated to house the restraining means, then protection and functionality are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of restraining meansVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the support structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The support structure provides mechanical attachment, forms the housing for the restraining means, guides the fender movement, and protects internal components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate custom-made protective housings, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining protection and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively guards the fender assembly's workings from damage, reduces the risk of plastic deformation, and simplifies the manufacturing process, providing a more reliable and efficient protection mechanism against collisions and environmental factors.

Implementation Method 1

a spring loaded fender restraining mechanism which supports the resilient fender so as to resist downwardly directed sliding movement of the fender

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a resilient fender mounted on the support and guided there along for sliding movement relative thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9090414B2Fender assembly and a method for manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2015.07.28 COWEY STEVEN JOHN

AI summary

A fender assembly is disclosed. The fender assembly comprises an elongate support adapted to be attached to a surface of a support structure, the elongate support defining surfaces both inwardly and outwardly directed relative to the support surface, a resilient elongate fender mounted on the outer surface of the support and guided there along for vertical sliding movement relative thereto, and the inner surfaces defining a housing for a spring loaded fender restraining means co-acting with and adapted to resist downwardly directed sliding movement of the resilient elongate fender relative to the elongate support. An associated method for fabricating a fender assembly is also disclosed.