Linchpin Spring Ring Locking Against Unintentional Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linch pins for securing machine parts face issues with the spring ring shifting relative to the bolt in the transverse direction when external forces are applied, leading to unintentional unlocking and difficulty in opening the pin manually, especially when folded into the closed position without a machine part.
Innovation Solution
A linch pin design with a bolt featuring two bores and a locking recess, where the spring ring is rotatably mounted and has stop areas that engage with transverse stops on the bolt, preventing shifting in the transverse direction, and a starting bevel facilitating easy pivoting from the open to closed position, along with a through bore and unlocking section for manual unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spring ring is rotatably mounted in two bores without transverse stops, then the spring ring can pivot freely between open and closed positions, but the spring ring shifts relative to the bolt in the transverse direction when external forces are applied, leading to unintentional unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The spring ring is designed to be dynamically positionable between open and closed states through rotation, while the transverse stops provide static constraint in the transverse direction. This combination allows the ring to pivot freely for operation while preventing unwanted transverse movement that would cause unintentional unlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure is segmented into two functional components: the bores that allow rotational movement for pivoting, and the transverse stops that constrain lateral movement. This segmentation enables independent control of rotational freedom and transverse stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and locking reliability.
2Reliability
If the spring ring is folded into the closed position without a machine part attached, then the pin can be secured, but the pin cannot be manually opened without considerable force and is extremely cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse stops act as intermediaries between the spring ring and the external environment. When the ring is in the closed position, the stops prevent the ring from shifting transverse to the bolt, which would be required for manual opening. This creates a deliberate constraint that ensures secure locking while requiring intentional action (applying force to overcome the stop constraint) for opening, preventing accidental opening while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If the spring ring can pivot freely without transverse constraints, then the pin can be easily opened and closed, but the section of the spring ring unintentionally slips out of the longitudinal groove due to displacement in the transverse direction
Solution Approach 1:
The solution adds constraint in a different dimension (transverse direction) while maintaining freedom in the rotational dimension. The transverse stops constrain movement in the lateral dimension, preventing the spring ring section from slipping out of the longitudinal groove, while the rotational freedom around the bore axes remains intact for easy opening and closing operations.
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 design ensures secure locking without unintentional unlocking and allows for easy manual unlocking, even when the spring ring is closed without a machine part, enhancing user convenience and safety by preventing accidental snapping.
Implementation Method 1
an open spring ring rotatably mounted in the two bores in the region of its two ends, so that it can pivot between an open position and a closed position
Implementation Method 2
a locking section corresponding to the locking recess of the pin such that the spring ring is locked in the closed position
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a linchpin (1) for securing machine parts (4) such as axles or locking pins, comprising a pin (2), which has two bores (7, 8) and a locking recess (19) in the region of the head-side end of the pin, and comprising an open spring ring (3), which is rotatably mounted in the two bores (7, 8) in the region of the two ends (9, 10) of the spring ring such that the spring ring can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position and which has a locking section (20), which corresponds with the locking recess (19) of the pin in such a way that the spring ring (3) is locked in the closed position and can be pivoted out of the closed position into the open position if the locking section (20) is slid out of the locking recess (19) in the transverse direction of the pin (2) from a locking position into a released position. According to the invention, stop regions (30, 31) of the spring ring (3) are spring-loaded against corresponding transverse stops (27, 28) of the pin (2) in the closed position. Additionally or alternatively, the pin (2) has contact slope (38), by means of which the locking section (20) can be slid outward into the release position in the transverse direction of the pin (2) in the event of pivoting from the open position in the direction of the closed position.