Link Guiding Device Wear Reduction via Segmented Load Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing elongated object guiding devices experience wear and reduced lifetime due to concentrated load on links, leading to drooping of the straight part between the curved portion and the movable body, which limits their usage.
Innovation Solution
The elongated object guiding device incorporates links with a link limiting portion and a separating member with a separation limiting portion, allowing the links to pivot between straight and bent states, sharing load and reducing wear through engagement modes and guides, thereby extending the device's lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If links are used to guide elongated objects in a movable body, then the elongated objects are protected during movement, but load is concentrated on each link causing wear and reducing device lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The separating member divides the accommodation chamber into multiple spaces, and the load-bearing function is segmented between the link limiting portion (on links) and the separation limiting portion (on separating members). This distribution of load-bearing responsibilities reduces the concentrated load on individual links, decreasing wear and extending device lifetime.
2Reliability
If the straight part of the elongated object guiding device droops due to wear, then the device can no longer be used, but increasing link strength may increase device weight
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is segmented between links and separating members. The separating members, being lighter components, share the load-bearing responsibility, allowing the use of lighter links while maintaining overall structural strength and durability, thus avoiding the need to increase device weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pivoting range of links is not limited, then the device has greater flexibility, but the links experience excessive wear and droop
Solution Approach 1:
The link limiting portion and separation limiting portion are designed in advance to limit the pivoting range of links and separating members. This preliminary constraint prevents excessive pivoting that would cause wear and drooping, while still allowing sufficient flexibility for the device to perform its guiding function effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
An elongated object guiding device includes links arranged in series. Adjacent ones of the links are pivotally coupled to each other. An accommodation chamber is defined in the links. Each link includes an inner recess, an inner projection, an outer recess, and an outer projection that limit a pivoting range of the link and an adjacent link so that the links are pivoted between a straight state and a bent state. Each link includes a separating member that separates elongated objects accommodated in the accommodation chamber from each other. Each separating member is pivotally coupled to an adjacent separating member. Each separating member includes a through-hole and a sliding portion that limit a pivoting range of the separating member and an adjacent separating member so that a limit on a first side of the pivoting range is the straight state.