Grid-Aligned Coupling Devices for Modular Marble Run Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marble run systems lack flexibility in construction, leading to limited structural variations and issues with components shifting during assembly, causing marbles to get stuck and making it difficult to identify and repair faults.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of basic building blocks with grid-aligned coupling devices on top and bottom, allowing for flexible assembly and connection in various orientations, along with a base plate for stability, enabling complex and varied marble run structures without clamping effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are placed and layered without fixed connections, then assembly is simple and rapid, but components move easily relative to one another causing marbles to get stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is segmented into a coupling element with a receiving cavity and a coupling partner with a protrusion, allowing modular assembly while maintaining stability. The segmentation enables rapid connection by inserting the protrusion into the receiving cavity without complex tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling partner's protrusion is inserted into the coupling element's receiving cavity, creating a nested structure where one component fits within another. This nesting provides stable connection while maintaining simplicity of assembly.
2Reliability
If components are fixed together with pins and bores, then stability is improved, but assembly and dismantling becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device divides the fastening function into two simple parts: a receiving cavity and a protrusion. This segmentation eliminates the need for pins and bores, allowing rapid assembly by simply inserting one part into the other without time-consuming alignment or fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element and coupling partner are designed with pre-formed geometric shapes (receiving cavity and protrusion) that guide the assembly process. The preliminary shaping of these components ensures they fit together immediately without requiring additional fastening steps or tools.
3Device complexity
If components are compactly designed with grooves and holes, then structural variety is reduced, but assembly simplicity is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The basic building blocks are designed with universal coupling devices that can connect in multiple orientations and configurations. The coupling element with receiving cavity and coupling partner with protrusion can be assembled in various arrangements, enabling complex marble run structures while maintaining simple assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device allows connections in multiple spatial dimensions and orientations. The protrusion can be inserted into the receiving cavity from different angles and positions, enabling three-dimensional structural variety while keeping the assembly mechanism simple and consistent.
4Adaptability or versatility
If coupling devices are provided on all grid points, then assembly flexibility is maximized, but marble track channels may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling devices are selectively positioned at specific grid points rather than all grid points. The receiving cavity and protrusion are placed only where needed for structural support and connection, leaving other areas clear for marble track channels. This local placement provides sufficient assembly flexibility without blocking marble paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body is segmented into functional zones: areas with coupling devices for structural assembly and areas without coupling devices for marble track channels. This segmentation allows the marble run to be assembled flexibly while ensuring marble paths remain unobstructed.
Data Source
Figure 1a~3b
Figure 4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The system has a coupling device (14b) and another coupling device provided in a form of recesses and ridges at an upper side and a lower side (11b) of a base body (10). The coupling devices follow a grating with a grating distance (R) in a longitudinal direction (1) and a transverse direction (2), where the grating is orthogonally aligned. The body comprises size in the two directions, where the size corresponds to integral multiple of the grating distance. The base body comprises size in the two directions, where the size corresponds to triplet of the grating distance.