Keyboard Frame Semi-Monocoque Structure for Bending Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional music-performing keyboard apparatuses lack sufficient bending and twisting rigidity due to their design, which makes them prone to flexing and weight increase when attempting to reinforce them.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard apparatus with a frame featuring a continuous channel-shaped concave section and a body section that contacts and fixes the opposite sides of the frame's opening, forming a semi-monocoque structure to enhance rigidity without adding weight or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the frame and casing are fixed only along one side via screws, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and assembly is simplified, but the bending rigidity and twisting rigidity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple sections along the key-arranged direction, with each section having a channel-shaped concave structure. This segmentation allows the frame to achieve high rigidity through the distributed channel structures while maintaining simple assembly at each segment location.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame incorporates channel-shaped concave sections with curved surfaces along the key-arranged direction. These curved geometric structures inherently provide higher bending and twisting rigidity compared to flat structures, resolving the contradiction between simple assembly and structural strength.
2Strength
If a closed sectional shape is formed by fixing both sides of the frame opening, then the bending rigidity and twisting rigidity are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel-shaped concave sections with curved surfaces provide inherent structural strength. The curved geometry creates a semi-monocoque structure that achieves high rigidity without requiring a fully closed sectional shape, thus avoiding increased device complexity while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly closing all sections, the invention applies the channel-shaped structure locally at specific positions along the key-arranged direction. This localized application provides sufficient rigidity where needed while keeping the overall structure simple and avoiding unnecessary complexity.
3Strength
If external reinforcing members are added to the frame, then the bending rigidity and twisting rigidity are enhanced, but the weight of the keyboard apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel-shaped concave sections with curved surfaces provide high structural strength-to-weight ratio. The curved geometry inherently resists bending and twisting forces without requiring additional reinforcing members, thus enhancing rigidity while maintaining lightweight construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame utilizes a composite structure combining the channel-shaped concave sections with the plate-like portions. This composite geometric configuration creates a semi-monocoque structure that achieves high rigidity without adding weight through separate reinforcing elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Frame on which a plurality of keys are operably mounted has a continuous surface defining a channel-shaped concave section extending in a direction where the keys are arranged, and a body section in which the frame is mounted has a supporting surface that contacts opposite sides of an opening of the channel-shaped concave section of the frame. The opposite sides of the opening of the channel-shaped concave section of the frame are fixed to the supporting surface of the body section. Thus, a closed-section structure is formed by the channel-shaped concave section of the frame and the supporting surface of the body section, which constitutes a semi monocoque structure extending in the key-arranged direction. Such a structure can enhance bending rigidity and twisting rigidity relative to the key-arranged direction.