Height Adjustable Round Rod Guide with Rotating Insert

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing round rod guides require multiple designs for different distances between the receiving opening and the stud shaft, and their assembly can be complex and costly, especially when dealing with threaded metal parts.

Innovation Solution

A two-part plastic round rod guide with a cup-shaped base part and a plug-in part that can be inserted in two different positions, allowing the receiving opening to be adjusted in height and featuring internal threads for simplified assembly, along with anti-twist mechanisms and a tilted slot for easy mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single design of round rod guide is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different height requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of different rod guide designsVSAvoidadjustability to different distances
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The round rod guide is divided into two separate parts: a base part and an insert part. The base part contains the receiving opening and mounting features, while the insert part contains the channel for the stud shaft. This segmentation allows the insert part to be rotated to different positions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) relative to the base part, enabling adjustment of the stud shaft position while keeping the base part fixed. This resolves the contradiction by providing height adjustability through the rotation mechanism without requiring multiple complete rod guide designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert part is designed to be rotatable within the base part, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. The rotation capability allows the distance between the receiving opening and the stud shaft to be adjusted to at least two different positions. This dynamic feature enables a single rod guide design to adapt to different height requirements, eliminating the need for multiple fixed designs while maintaining structural integrity through the defined rotational positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If threaded metal parts are used for assembly, then fixing strength is improved, but assembly difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixing strength of rod guide to containerVSAvoidassembly complexity and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The threaded fastening function is extracted from a separate metal nut component and integrated directly into the plastic insert part. The insert part incorporates internal threads that engage with the external thread on the stud shaft, eliminating the need for a separate metal nut. This integration simplifies the assembly process by reducing the number of components and assembly steps while maintaining the fixing strength through the direct threaded connection between the plastic insert and the stud shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rod guide utilizes a composite structure combining plastic and threaded features. The insert part is made of plastic material that incorporates internal threading, creating a composite component that combines the advantages of plastic (corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness) with the mechanical advantage of threads (secure fastening). This composite approach eliminates the need for separate metal fastening parts while maintaining adequate fixing strength for the application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2767659B1Height adjustable round rod guide
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 EMKA BESCHLAGTAILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2767659B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2767659B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2767659B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A round rod guide (10) for mounting on a container-side stud bolt, comprising a plastic body that can be attached to and secured on the stud bolt shaft (30), the plastic body having an internal channel (35) for receiving the stud bolt shaft (30) and a receiving opening (19) at its free end for guiding a round rod, is characterized in that the plastic body is formed in two parts: a first, cup-shaped base part (11) and a second insertion part (16) that can be inserted into the cup-shaped base part (11) in at least two different insertion positions, each rotated relative to the other by a predetermined angle; and the insertion part (16) has both the receiving opening (19) for the round rod and the channel (35) for receiving the stud bolt shaft (30) and for securing the round rod guide (10) thereon.wherein the receiving opening (19) formed in the insertion part (16) has a different distance to the base of the stud shaft (30) in the first insertion position than in the second insertion position when the insertion part (16) is inserted into the base part (11).