Lead-Screw Hose Reel Guide Cartridge for Even Spooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose reels face issues with hose misalignment, tangling, and inefficient space utilization due to uneven spooling, especially when retracting hoses at angles or near the rotational axis, and require manual correction which is cumbersome for users with limited technical skills.
Innovation Solution
A reel spooling device with a guide cartridge featuring multiple pairs of rollers and a lead screw with overlaid threads, allowing the guide cartridge to reciprocate and guide the hose into neat rows, minimizing spooling errors and reducing the risk of jamming, with a removable tooth mechanism for manual correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple guide structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but spooling precision deteriorates leading to hose misalignment and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into multiple independent roller pairs (first pair, second pair, third pair) arranged at different positions and orientations. Each roller pair independently guides the hose at a specific location, collectively achieving precise spooling control without requiring a complex monolithic guide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rollers are arranged in three-dimensional space with different orientations (some parallel to rotational axis, some perpendicular, at 45-degree angles). This spatial arrangement allows the hose to be guided from multiple directions simultaneously, achieving precise alignment control through dimensional distribution rather than increasing single-structure complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hose is retracted at large angles or near the rotational axis, then adaptability is improved, but spooling precision deteriorates causing misalignment and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cartridge is designed with multiple roller pairs that can handle various retraction scenarios: rollers parallel to the rotational axis for hoses retracted near the axis, rollers perpendicular for corner retraction, and 45-degree angled rollers for intermediate positions. This multi-functional guide structure adapts to different retraction angles and positions while maintaining consistent spooling precision.
3Ease of repair
If manual correction mechanisms are made accessible to users, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toothed belt and guide cartridge are designed as removable components that can be easily extracted from the housing. Users can remove the guide cartridge and toothed belt assembly as a unit to access and correct alignment issues, separating the correction function from the main housing structure and simplifying user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide cartridge and toothed belt are designed as replaceable wear components rather than permanent fixtures. If misalignment occurs or components wear, users can simply remove and replace these relatively simple, low-cost components rather than performing complex repairs on the entire reel mechanism.
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 device ensures even spooling and minimizes spooling errors, reduces the risk of jamming, and allows for easy user correction of alignment issues, while maintaining a compact housing form factor.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw mechanically coupled to the reel and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis when the reel rotates; a guide cartridge seated on the lead screw, the guide cartridge configured to reciprocate between opposing first and second ends of said lead screw
Implementation Method 2
a first pair of rollers which are spaced relative to each other and rotatable about first and second axes, the first pair of rollers defining a first restriction; a second pair of rollers which are spaced relative to each other and rotatable about third and fourth axes
Data Source
AI summary
A reel spooling device includes a reel adapted to store a spooled length of hose or conduit and a lead screw mechanically coupled to the reel and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis when the reel rotates. A guide cartridge is seated on the lead screw and configured to reciprocate between opposing first and second ends of said lead screw. The guide cartridge includes a first pair of rollers which are spaced relative to each other and rotatable about first and second axes, defining a first restriction. A second pair of rollers are spaced relative to each other and rotatable about third and fourth axes, defining a second restriction. The first, second, third and fourth axes are each generally parallel, and the first and second restrictions are separated relative to a longitudinal direction in which the hose or conduit passes through the guide cartridge.