Vibration Protection for Screw Couplings via Flexible Lamella

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration protection solutions for screw-locked plug connections in harsh industrial environments face challenges such as increased complexity, cost, and reduced compactness due to the use of additional parts or high rigidity elements, leading to poor haptics and reproducibility, and are prone to wear and functional failures under dynamic loads.

Innovation Solution

A vibration-protected plug connection design without additional parts, utilizing a one-piece contact carrier made of insulating material with axial stop surfaces and a radially deflectable flexible lamella, where the lamella's orientation ensures tangential alignment of force components, preventing undesirable deformations and maintaining resilience, and featuring a convexly curved projection interacting with the threaded part's toothing to achieve a well-defined and reproducible torque curve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional parts are used for vibration protection, then vibration protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration protection function is merged into the contact carrier itself through the flexible lamella, eliminating the need for separate vibration protection parts. The lamella is integrally formed with the contact carrier body, combining sealing and vibration protection functions in a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible lamella provides self-service vibration protection through its inherent elasticity and radial deflection capability. The lamella automatically generates the necessary wave-like moment curve during screw rotation without requiring additional active components or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If additional parts are used for vibration protection, then vibration protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible lamella is integrally formed with the contact carrier in a single injection molding process, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations for additional vibration protection parts, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The material properties of the contact carrier are modified by incorporating elastomeric material or elastomeric coating, enabling the lamella to exhibit flexible, resilient behavior without requiring additional metal spring parts or complex material treatments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If additional parts are used for vibration protection, then vibration protection is improved, but compactness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration protectionVSAvoidcompactness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible lamella is formed as an integral part of the contact carrier body, utilizing the existing structural space rather than adding external components. This maintains the compact design of the plug connection while providing effective vibration protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Stability of the object's composition

If high rigidity elements are used for vibration protection, then structural stability is improved, but haptics and reproducibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidhaptics and reproducibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact carrier material is changed to include elastomeric properties or elastomeric coating, enabling the lamella to exhibit flexible, resilient behavior with well-defined spring characteristics. This provides reproducible haptic feedback during manual operation while maintaining structural stability through the wave-like moment curve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Stability of the object's composition

If high rigidity elements are used for vibration protection, then structural stability is improved, but wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The use of elastomeric material or coating on the flexible lamella provides inherent damping and shock absorption properties, reducing impact loads and wear on the screw-threaded part interface. The resilient material conforms to the toothing profile, distributing contact stresses and minimizing wear while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides effective vibration protection with improved haptics and reproducibility, reduced wear, and maintained spring properties over time, while maintaining a compact form factor and avoiding the drawbacks of additional parts and high rigidity elements.

Implementation Method 1

at least one on its in the figure 2 and 4 marked connection "x - x" almost firmly clamped and at its free end approximately radially deflectable flexible lamella 1.1/3.1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1744407B1Vibration protection for coupling parts with screw engagement
Publication Date: 2009.02.25 HIRSCHMANN AUTOMATION AND CONTROL GMBH
  • EP1744407B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1744407B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1744407B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The plug or socket has a contact holder (1) with contact chambers for receiving contact partners. The holder has axial stop surfaces (1.5, 1.6) for receiving threaded parts and a bearing surface serving as a pivot bearing. The holder has a bending plate (1.1) in an area of the bearing surface, where the bending plate is radially movable. The plate is provided with edge surfaces that point in moveable direction and are normally adjusted.