Hinged Locking Collar for Axial Fixation in Cylindrical Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking collars for rotary mechanical devices are difficult to install without disassembling the device, and they often require flexible packing rings that need frequent replacement due to axial movement of mechanical elements.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece hinged locking collar with semi-circular segments and an opposed slit allows easy installation by pivoting around the shaft, with a threaded locking member securing the collar against the cavity wall, preventing axial movement and eliminating the need for flexible packing rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional locking collar is used to prevent axial movement of mechanical elements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to the need for disassembly and flexible packing rings
Solution Approach 1:
The locking collar is divided into two semi-circular segments that can be separated and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the collar to be opened like a clamp and installed around the shaft without disassembling the device, while still providing rigid locking when closed and secured with the set screw.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking collar transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic assembly process. The two segments can move relative to each other during installation (open state), then lock into a fixed position (closed state) using the hinge connection and set screw, providing both ease of installation and reliable locking.
2Reliability
If a rigid locking collar is used to fix axial position of sealing elements, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty of installation without disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the collar into two installable segments connected by a hinge, the system enables operation during assembly without requiring device disassembly, while maintaining rigid fixation capability when locked in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism adds a rotational dimension through the hinge connection, allowing the collar to open and close around the shaft. This dimensional change enables easy installation from the radial direction without axial disassembly, while still providing rigid axial positioning when closed.
3Reliability
If flexible packing rings are used to prevent fluid migration, then reliability deteriorates due to frequent replacement needs, but device complexity increases with the locking collar structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from flexible packing rings and implements it through a rigid two-segment collar structure with hinge and set screw mechanism, eliminating the need for flexible components that require frequent replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, short-living flexible packing rings with a durable rigid collar structure that does not degrade over time, reducing maintenance frequency and long-term operational costs despite the slightly more complex initial structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking collar to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity or lumen of a device for securing mechanical elements from moving axially within the cavity. The collar includes two semi-circular cylindrical segments hinged together with an opposed single slit to allow easy installation within the cavity and pushed into position against the installed elements without the need to disassemble a device. The collar is a substantially cylindrical rigid member with an outer diameter closely matching the inner bore diameter of the cavity and includes an opening at the slit to receive a securing screw member to urge the two segments apart to engage the inner bore surface of the cavity and fix the collar in place thereby locking the elements in place.