Foldable Tubular Element with Rigid Degree of Freedom
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable tubular elements face challenges in accurately controlling the folding and expanding processes due to material deformation, leading to complexity and limited reusability.
Innovation Solution
A foldable tubular element with one rigid degree of freedom is constructed using single layered annular units connected by shared polygons, featuring rigid planar quadrilateral facets and spherical mechanisms, allowing precise control over folding and expanding through a rotation pair formed by connection lines of adjacent units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If foldable tubular elements are designed using wide elastic and plastic deformation of materials, then folding and expanding capability is achieved, but accurate control of folding and expanding process cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular element is segmented into multiple rigid planar units connected by spherical mechanisms. Each unit maintains rigid geometry while the spherical joints enable controlled relative motion, replacing continuous material deformation with discrete rigid body movements for precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces elastic-plastic material deformation with a mechanical linkage system consisting of rigid facets and spherical mechanisms. This substitution enables accurate control through geometric constraints and rotational degrees of freedom rather than relying on material properties.
2Shape
If material deformation is used for folding and expanding, then the element can change shape, but the entire element deforms and becomes suitable only for disposable use
Solution Approach 1:
The element is divided into multiple rigid planar units that maintain their individual geometric integrity. Shape transformation is achieved through relative motion of these rigid segments at spherical joints, not through deformation of the units themselves, enabling repeated use without material fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic motion through spherical mechanisms that allow controlled rotation between rigid units. This enables the element to transition between folded and expanded states while maintaining rigid unit integrity, making the structure suitable for multiple cycles of deployment and storage.
3Ease of operation
If traditional foldable designs are used, then folding and expanding is possible, but the process becomes complex and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular element is segmented into identical or similar rigid planar units with standardized spherical connection mechanisms. This modular segmentation simplifies the overall system by repeating basic functional units, reducing design complexity while maintaining folding and expanding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rigid planar unit serves multiple functions: maintaining structural rigidity, providing geometric constraints for motion control, and forming part of the spherical mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of specialized components needed, simplifying the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
Foldable tubular construct/element with one rigid degree of freedom is of a tubular construction formed by a number of single layered annular units which are connected in sequence; each single layered annular unit is of a prism having N ridge lines; two adjacent prisms each having N sides are connected to each other by sharing a polygon with N sides formed on an intersection plane; each prism with N ridge lines is composed of N rigid planar quadrilateral facets; two adjacent single layered annular units comprise N spherical mechanisms formed by the intersections of only four planar quadrilateral facets at each apex, where N is a number greater than 3.