Guide Assembly Elastic Element Radial Displacement Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-stiffness elastic elements, such as coil springs or wave springs, can experience radial displacement during compression, leading to winding jamming and overlap, which can cause lasting damage and impair functionality.
Innovation Solution
A guide assembly comprising an outer and inner guide member, an elastic member, a support member, and an actuation member, where the inner guide member has an axially extending guiding surface that restricts radial movement of the elastic member, ensuring an axial overlap of at least two-thirds of the elastic member's length to prevent winding overlap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
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 jamming and overlap
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 path, preventing radial displacement of coil windings while allowing axial compression. The guide members act as mediators that enable the low-stiffness elastic element to function reliably by eliminating the harmful radial movement that would otherwise cause winding overlap.
2Reliability
If a higher stiffness elastic element is used, then winding overlap is prevented, but the elastic member loses compressibility and functionality
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, highly compressible properties while the guide members independently prevent radial displacement. The functions are separated rather than requiring the elastic member to simultaneously provide both compliance and rigid guidance.
3Reliability
If guide members are added to constrain radial movement, then winding overlap is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide members with existing structural components of the mechanical system. Rather than introducing completely separate, independent guide structures, the guide functionality is integrated into components that already exist in the system architecture. This merging approach provides the necessary radial constraints while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity and assembly steps.
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 in elastic members, providing a compact, cost-effective, and easily assemblable solution that maintains the elastic member's functionality.
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
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to 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.