Injection Button Pivot Bearing Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injection devices require users to apply significant force to overcome friction between the push button and the driving member during the injection process, making it difficult to administer a dose due to relative rotation and resulting frictional forces.

Innovation Solution

A push button connection with a pivot bearing and radial bearings is designed to minimize friction by optimizing the surface area and radius of interaction, using materials with low internal friction and surface treatments, and incorporating a snap-on assembly mechanism to secure the push button in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the push button and driving part are connected with direct contact, then the connection is simple, but the friction between relatively rotatable parts increases the force required for injection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structureVSAvoidforce required for injection
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A pivot bearing is introduced as an intermediary element between the push button and the driving part. The pivot bearing includes a pivot point on the push button that contacts a bearing surface on the driving part, creating a defined rotation axis that minimizes friction during relative rotation while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the surface area of interaction between push button and driving part is large, then the connection is stable, but the friction force increases requiring more user effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidfriction force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a large contact area, the invention concentrates the interaction at a specific local point - the pivot point. This point contact provides sufficient rotational stability and connection reliability while minimizing the contact area to reduce friction forces during injection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the radius of the friction force is large, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the moment arm for friction increases the required injection force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinjection force
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot bearing creates a point contact with a very small effective radius, essentially minimizing the moment arm for friction forces. The curved pivot point allows rotation while keeping the friction moment (friction force × radius) to a minimum, reducing the effort required for injection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 reduces the force required for injection by minimizing frictional resistance, allowing for easier and more efficient dose administration while maintaining structural integrity and preventing accidental disassembly.

Implementation Method 1

the friction occurring between these relatively rotatable parts contributes to the force a user needs to apply In order to push back the bushing and the scale drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2109474B2Injection button
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 NOVO NORDISK AS
  • EP2109474B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2109474B2 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A push button connection for an injection device comprising a push button (10) and a driving part (20). The two parts of the push button connection are mounted to each other and is relatively rotatable to each other. In order to minimize the friction occurring between the push button and the driving part when relatively rotated forces are transmitted via a pivot bearing (18, 22). In order also to minimize the effect of forces appearing dislocated from the center line a number of radial bearings (13, 23; 14, 25) having a little friction diameter is provided.