Infinity Coil Fabric Structure for Uniform Seam Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial fabrics used in papermaking and nonwovens often face issues with non-uniform thickness and seam failure due to differences in seam construction, leading to product marking and mechanical stress, and existing solutions like spiral link coils are stiff, costly, and prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
The use of infinity coil elements, shaped like a figure-eight or lemniscate, which are interdigitated to form a continuous industrial fabric with uniform characteristics, eliminating the need for additional materials like stuffers and reducing stiffness, while allowing for easier seam formation and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional spiral link coils are used to form industrial fabric seams, then seam strength is improved, but fabric stiffness increases and uniformity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric is segmented into modular coil elements that can be independently formed and then assembled. Each coil element is a discrete unit with standardized dimensions, allowing the fabric to be constructed from identical repeating segments that maintain uniformity while providing structural strength through their interlocking arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil elements serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural strength as load-bearing components, create uniform spacing through their standardized geometry, and enable flexible assembly through their modular design. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, maintaining fabric uniformity while ensuring seam strength.
2Reliability
If seam construction is modified to improve seam strength, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coil elements are pre-formed to precise specifications before assembly into the final fabric structure. This preliminary formation ensures that each component meets exact dimensional and structural requirements, guaranteeing seam reliability while simplifying the final assembly process since the critical forming operations are already completed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies precise geometric parameters for the coil elements (such as wire diameter, coil pitch, and curvature radius) that optimize both strength and manufacturability. By establishing standardized parameter ranges, the design achieves reliable seams while allowing for efficient manufacturing through parameter control rather than complex geometric variations.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If fabric thickness is increased to prevent wear, then durability is improved, but uniformity is compromised due to localized thickness variations
Solution Approach 1:
The coil elements provide localized reinforcement at critical stress points (seam areas) while maintaining standard thickness in the body of the fabric. This local quality approach increases durability where needed without creating unwanted thickness variations across the entire fabric surface, as the reinforcement is concentrated in the coil structures rather than uniformly distributed.
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
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AI summary
An industrial fabric/belt including spiral coils shaped as a symbol for infinity or a lemniscate, i.e. infinity elements, are joined to each other with a pintle. A fabric element is configured as a continuous loop to form an industrial fabric employing a plurality of infinity coil elements.