Straight Curved Guide Rail Low Stiffness Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Guide devices with straight-curved rails face issues of shock generation when movable elements transition between rails of varying processing accuracy, due to lower accuracy in curved parts compared to straight rails.

Innovation Solution

A straight-curved guide rail with a low-stiffness region at its end portion, designed to warp and absorb shocks, featuring a base part and track part configuration that includes cutout portions to reduce stiffness and facilitate smoother transitions between rails of different accuracy levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If multiple rails are arranged in line to extend the guide device longitudinal length, then the guide device can cover longer travel distances, but large shocks are generated when the movable element transitions between rails with different processing accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide device longitudinal lengthVSAvoidshock during rail transition

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a low-stiffness region with different mechanical properties than the rest of the rail. This region has reduced stiffness specifically at the transition zone between rails, allowing it to flex and absorb shocks when the movable element moves between rails with different processing accuracy, while the rest of the rail maintains its normal structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The low-stiffness region acts as a pre-positioned cushioning element at the rail end portions. Before the movable element encounters the processing accuracy mismatch between rails, the low-stiffness region is already in place to absorb and mitigate the shock that would otherwise occur during transition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Manufacturing precision

If the rail stiffness is increased to improve guidance precision, then the guidance accuracy improves, but the shock during transition between rails of different accuracy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance accuracyVSAvoidshock during rail transition

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rail structure is designed with non-uniform stiffness distribution, where the majority of the rail maintains high stiffness for accurate guidance, but the end portions have reduced stiffness to specifically address the transition shock problem. This localized modification allows the system to achieve both guidance accuracy and shock reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the rail end portion is designed with higher stiffness to maintain structural integrity, then the rail strength is improved, but the shock absorption capability during movable element transition deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverail structural integrityVSAvoidshock during transition

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rail is designed with spatially varying stiffness characteristics, where the central and majority portions maintain high stiffness for structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, while only the end portions have reduced stiffness specifically for shock absorption during transitions. This localized differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of both strength and shock mitigation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively suppresses shocks when moving a movable element between rails of low and high processing accuracy, ensuring smoother operation and reduced mechanical stress.

Implementation Method 1

a region of the straight-curved guide rail, which includes an end portion of the straight-curved guide rail in the longitudinal direction, includes a low-stiffness region in which portions including the track surfaces have lower stiffness than stiffness of other region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20240352964A1Straight and curved guide rail and straight and curved guide device

Publication Date: 2024.10.24 NIPPON THOMPSON

AI summary

A straight-curved guide rail includes a straight part and a curved part and is configured to guide movement of a movable element. The straight-curved guide rail includes: a base part extending in a longitudinal direction of the straight-curved guide rail; and a track part, which is formed on the base part, extends in the longitudinal direction, and has a pair of rail ends, each including a track surface to be in contact with the movable element, on both side portions of the straight-curved guide rail in a width direction of the straight-curved guide rail. A region of the straight-curved guide rail, which includes an end portion of the straight-curved guide rail in the longitudinal direction, includes a low-stiffness region in which portions including the track surfaces have lower stiffness than stiffness of other region.