Flexible Joint Gimbal Ring Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexible joints, such as gimbal rings, experience deformation under load, leading to increased stress on pinned hinges and potential size increases to accommodate internal pressure, compromising structural integrity in high-pressure environments.
Innovation Solution
A flexible joint design featuring a gimbal ring with pivot pin members and an internal support structure, such as a cruciform or lattice pattern, that maintains structural integrity and prevents relative rotational movement of pins, allowing the ring to deform without additional stress, using materials like metals or composites and configurations like 3D printing for enhanced rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the gimbal ring components are increased in size to accommodate increased internal pressure, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The internal support structure is divided into multiple struts arranged in a cruciform or lattice pattern, creating a segmented framework that distributes structural loads across multiple elements rather than relying on a single monolithic component. This segmentation allows the joint to maintain strength while using thinner, less massive individual elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure combines the gimbal ring, pivot pin members, and internal struts into a composite system where each element contributes to the overall structural integrity. The interaction between these components creates a composite structure that achieves higher strength-to-weight ratio than any single component could provide alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gimbal ring deforms under load, then flexibility is maintained, but stress on pinned hinges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal support structure acts as an intermediary element between the gimbal ring and the pivot pin members. When the ring deforms under load, the struts provide intermediate support that distributes the forces, preventing direct transmission of high stresses to the pinned hinges while still allowing the ring to deform and maintain flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure introduces a third dimension of load distribution by placing struts inside the volumetric space of the gimbal ring. This internal three-dimensional framework provides additional load paths that were not available in the original two-dimensional ring structure, enabling the system to accommodate deformation while protecting the hinges.
3Ease of operation
If conventional flexible joints are used in high pressure environments, then operational simplicity is maintained, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal support structure is pre-installed within the gimbal ring before the joint is subjected to high-pressure operation. This preliminary structural reinforcement ensures that when high pressures are applied, the support structure is already in place to distribute loads and prevent excessive deformation, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring complex operational procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible joint includes a pair of generally tubular members and a ring (e.g., gimbal ring). The tubular members are pivotally connected to the ring by pivot pins such that the pivot axes of the tubular members is generally perpendicularly related to each other to form a hinge. A support structure may interconnect the pivot pins and may be configured to support the pivot pins across the joint to maintain a generally perpendicular hinge orientation. A conduit may connect the tubular members.