Guide Assembly With Inner Guiding Surface to Prevent Coil Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-stiffness elastic elements, such as coil springs, can experience winding overlap during compression, leading to damage and impaired functionality, with higher stiffness elements not being a feasible solution in many applications.
Innovation Solution
A guide assembly comprising an outer and inner guide member that encloses an elastic member, with an axially extending guiding surface on the inner guide member to restrict radial movement, and an actuation member to compress the elastic member against a support member, ensuring the axial overlap between the guiding surface and the elastic member is at least two-thirds of its length, thereby preventing winding overlap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a low-stiffness elastic element is used, then the elastic member can be compressed effectively, but individual coil windings may be displaced radially causing overlapping and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide members as intermediary components between the elastic member and the compression forces. These guide members constrain the elastic member's motion paths, preventing radial displacement of coil windings during compression. The guiding surfaces of the guide members act as mediators that redirect and control the compression motion, ensuring it remains axial and prevents the harmful radial movement that causes winding overlap and damage.
2Reliability
If a higher stiffness elastic element is used, then winding overlap is prevented, but the application requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compression system into distinct functional components: the elastic member responsible for providing elastic force, and separate guide members responsible for constraining motion. This segmentation allows the elastic member to maintain its low-stiffness properties for application feasibility while the guide members independently provide the motion control needed to prevent winding overlap, thus maintaining reliability without sacrificing adaptability.
3Reliability
If guide members are added to constrain radial movement, then the assembly complexity increases, but the solution remains compact and easily assemblable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the guide members: they serve both as structural support elements and as motion-constraining guides. The guide members are designed with guiding surfaces that directly contact the elastic member, combining the support and guidance functions in a single component rather than requiring separate elements. This merging reduces overall assembly complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of constrained motion.
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 guide assembly effectively reduces the risk of winding overlap, providing a compact, cost-effective, and easily assembled solution that maintains the elastic member's functionality while preventing damage, applicable in various mechanical systems.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member disposed in the space, the elastic member enclosing the inner guide member and being compressible along an axial direction
Implementation Method 2
the inner guide member comprises an axially extending guiding surface facing the elastic member for restricting movement of the elastic member in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A guide assembly, comprising: an outer guide member; an inner guide member at least partially enclosed by the outer guide member, the outer guide member and the inner guide member delimiting a space therebetween; an elastic member disposed in the space, enclosing the inner guide member and being compressible along an axial direction; a support member; and an actuation member configured to axially compress the elastic member against the support member. The inner guide member comprises an axially extending guiding surface facing the elastic member for restricting movement of the elastic member in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. A length of an axial overlap between the guiding surface of the inner guide member and the elastic member is at least two thirds of an axial length of the elastic member.