Loom Bearing Case Segmentation for Vibration Force Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing loom support structures are prone to wear and damage due to high-frequency vibrations during weaving, as the bearing case receives significant forces and moment forces from the drive transmission shaft, leading to a loose attachment and potential damage to the bearings and gear members.

Innovation Solution

The support structure is redesigned with separate bearing cases for the first and second bearings, each attached to the side frame by a common screw member, allowing for closer positioning of the bearings to the side frame and distributing the vibration forces more evenly, thereby reducing the moment and force acting on the attaching portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single bearing case accommodates both bearings, then the structure is simpler, but the moment force on the attaching portion increases due to the large distance between the attaching position and the second bearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidmoment force on attaching portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single bearing case into two separate bearing cases: a first bearing case accommodating the first bearing and a second bearing case accommodating the second bearing. This segmentation reduces the moment force on the attaching portion by positioning each bearing case closer to its respective bearing, thereby eliminating the lever arm effect that caused excessive moment forces in the unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If the second bearing is positioned far from the attaching position, then the drive transmission shaft can be supported at a longer interval, but the moment force acting on the attaching portion becomes excessively large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport intervalVSAvoidmoment force on attaching portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the bearing cases, the patent enables the second bearing to be positioned far from the attaching position (maintaining long support interval) while each individual bearing case remains close to its bearing, thus avoiding the moment force problem that would occur with a single extended bearing case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single bearing case is used, then the number of parts is reduced, but the force from vibration is concentrated on the attaching portion leading to wear and loosening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidattachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses two separate bearing cases instead of one, which distributes the vibrational forces from the drive transmission shaft to two different attaching portions on the side frame. This load distribution reduces the stress concentration and wear at any single attaching location, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the attachment despite the increased number of parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If the bearing case is attached far from the bearing position, then the bearing can be supported at an optimal location, but the distance creates a large moment force on the attaching portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing positioning precisionVSAvoidmoment force on attaching portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows each bearing case to be positioned optimally close to its corresponding bearing for precise support, while the separation into two independent cases prevents the moment force problem that would arise from a single distant attachment point. Each bearing case acts independently with its own short lever arm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration minimizes the forces acting on the bearing cases during vibrations, reducing wear and the risk of damage to the drive mechanism components, ensuring a more stable and durable support for the drive transmission shaft.

Implementation Method 1

the loom frame vibrates violently during weaving due to influences of shedding motion of a heddle frame of a shedding device, a beating operation of a beating device, and the like. Therefore, the warp beam supported by the loom frame (side frame) also vibrates violently during weaving.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the bearing case is in a state of receiving, from the bearing, a force in a direction of the vibration. In the support structure of PTL 1 where the bearings are accommodated in the bearing case attached to the side frame as described above, a second bearing, which is one of the two bearings, is apart from an attaching position of the bearing case to the side frame. Therefore, when the bearing case receives the force due to the vibration from the second bearing, the force and a moment force corresponding to a distance between the attaching position of the bearing case in the axis line direction and the second bearing act on an attaching portion of the bearing case.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce: Force

Data Source

PatentEP4086378B1loom
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 TSUDAKOMA KOGYO KK
  • EP4086378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4086378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4086378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A loom (1) including a drive transmission shaft (44) connected to a warp beam (15) via a gear member (46) inside a loom frame (2) and inserted in a through-hole (31a) formed in a side frame, and a support structure (50) for supporting the drive transmission shaft (44), the support structure (50) including a first bearing (52) and a second bearing (54) externally fitted to the drive transmission shaft (44) at an interval in an axis line direction. The loom is characterized in that the support structure (50) includes a first bearing case (56) configured to accommodate therein the first bearing (52) and attached to the side frame (3) inside the loom frame (2) and a second bearing case (42) configured to accommodate therein the second bearing (54) and attached to the side frame (3) outside the loom frame (2).