Impetus Pole Spring Mechanism Forward Propulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking aids, such as canes and crutches, primarily focus on dampening forces through spring mechanisms, but fail to enhance the user's forward propulsion and momentum.
Innovation Solution
The Impetus Pole incorporates a spring mechanism that rotates forward about its ground contact point, utilizing centripetal acceleration and a hand-held movable component to transfer momentum and impulse in the direction of the user's forward motion, enhancing propulsion by aligning impulse and momentum forces with the user's walking direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a spring mechanism is used in walking aids, then force dampening is improved, but forward propulsion is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional function of the spring mechanism. Instead of using the spring to dampen forces (absorb energy), the spring is configured to release stored elastic energy to propel the user forward. The spring is compressed during the user's downward motion and then recoils to push the user forward, transforming the dampening function into a propulsive function.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism operates in periodic cycles: compression during the user's weight-bearing phase, energy storage, and then rapid recoil during the propulsive phase. This periodic compression and expansion of the spring creates rhythmic forward propulsion that synchronizes with the user's walking cycle, converting the static dampening action into dynamic periodic propulsion.
2Loss of energy
If a spring mechanism is compressed during downward motion, then energy absorption is improved, but momentum transfer in forward direction is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-compressed during the user's downward motion phase, storing elastic potential energy before the propulsive phase begins. This preliminary compression action prepares the spring to release energy in the forward direction, ensuring that momentum transfer occurs at the optimal moment in the walking cycle rather than dissipating energy passively.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism utilizes phase transition in energy storage and release: during compression, energy is stored as elastic potential energy; during recoil, this energy is converted to kinetic energy for forward propulsion. The spring acts as an energy buffer that transitions between these phases, converting vertical compression energy into horizontal momentum.
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
This design effectively increases the user's forward momentum by transferring the impulse and momentum from the spring mechanism to the user, providing additional propelling force beyond traditional dampening mechanisms, thereby improving ambulatory propulsion.
Implementation Method 1
The Impetus Pole is comprised with a spring mechanism that does not limit this invention's use to dampening purposes only
Implementation Method 2
The transformation and conservation of energy from kinetic to potential and back to kinetic energy as from the work done by a spring or other flexural member has been established by the science of elementary physics
Implementation Method 3
a centripetal acceleration of the circular rotation directs the user's upper body muscular contraction to elongate the spring mechanism in a radial direction, causing an impulse force from the device upon the ground
Implementation Method 4
a resultant velocity vector manifests a momentum of a hand-grasped movable component connected to the spring mechanism. This momentum is transferred to the user because the user's hand is grasping this movable component with the developed momentum
Implementation Method 5
As the user begins to step forward with the rear foot pushing against the ground surface, a resultant velocity vector manifests a momentum of a hand-grasped movable component
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that imparts a propelling force upon a body when stepping forward during walking motion is comprised of and assembled concentrically together with a stick, pin, elastic tube, coupler, and hand held grip. The user rotates the apparatus in a forward circular motion towards the same direction of travel about a fixed location at the stick bottom on the ground surface. An impulse occurs from the apparatus upon the ground surface that is caused by the arm and upper body muscular contractions working against the elongation of the elastic tube. Then the coupler that is attached to the recoiling elastic tube attains a momentum that equals the combined masses of the coupler and grasped hand multiplied by the resultant of the tangential and radial velocity vectors. Both resultant impulse and momentum vectors are combined with the user's forward momentum because the user holds onto the grip of the device.