Mandrel Block and Wedge Mechanism for Membrane Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing composite components with bending processing face challenges in ensuring the membrane is suitably brought into close contact with the laminate, leading to complex structures and increased costs due to the need for vacuum drawing facilities and mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A processing device and method using a pair of mandrel blocks, a wedge block, and a membrane, where the mandrel blocks are movable to pull the membrane and the wedge block moves to shorten its protrusion length, ensuring close contact with the laminate during bending processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vacuum drawing is used to bring the membrane into close contact with the laminate, then the membrane contact is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to pump and pipe facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vacuum drawing system (pump and pipes) from the bending processing device. Instead of using vacuum to bring the membrane into contact with the laminate, the invention uses a support plate with a pressing portion that mechanically presses the membrane against the laminate, thereby eliminating complex vacuum facilities while maintaining reliable membrane contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate is designed with a pressing portion that automatically presses the membrane into close contact with the laminate during the bending process. This self-pressing mechanism eliminates the need for external vacuum drawing facilities, simplifying the device structure while ensuring reliable membrane contact through the mechanical action of the pressing portion.
2Manufacturing precision
If a mechanism for lowering the support plate is provided to control membrane contact position, then the membrane contact control is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the support plate lowering mechanism from the bending processing device. Instead of mechanically lowering the support plate to control membrane contact position, the invention uses the pressing portion on the support plate that naturally presses the membrane against the laminate during bending, thereby eliminating complex lowering mechanisms while maintaining precise membrane contact control.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate with pressing portion automatically controls the membrane contact position through its own structural design. The pressing portion engages with the membrane and presses it against the laminate during the bending process, eliminating the need for external lowering mechanisms while ensuring precise membrane contact control through the inherent mechanical action of the pressing structure.
3Device complexity
If only membrane tension from vacuum drawing is used to control membrane contact, then the structure is simplified, but the membrane cannot be reliably brought into close contact with the laminate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum drawing mechanical system with a direct mechanical pressing system. Instead of relying on vacuum tension to control membrane contact, the invention uses a pressing portion on the support plate that directly mechanically presses the membrane against the laminate, providing reliable membrane contact control through simple and effective mechanical action.
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 membrane is reliably brought into close contact with the laminate, simplifying the structure and reducing costs by eliminating the need for vacuum drawing facilities and improving maintainability.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane is pulled in the predetermined direction in accordance with the movement of the mandrel blocks in the predetermined direction
Implementation Method 2
the wedge block moves in the intersecting direction such that a protrusion length from the second surface is shortened in accordance with the movement of the mandrel blocks in the predetermined direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The processing device is provided with: a pair of a first mandrel block (10) and a second mandrel block (20) having side surfaces and upper surfaces and a laminate installed at the connection of the side surfaces and upper surfaces; a wedge block (30) disposed so as to protrude in the Z-axis direction between the first mandrel block (10) and the second mandrel block (20); a membrane (40) that covers the first mandrel block (10) and the second mandrel block (20) and the wedge block (30); and a drive unit that moves the first mandrel block (10) and the second mandrel block (20) apart. The membrane (40) is pulled along with the movement of the first mandrel block (10) and the second mandrel block (20). The wedge block (30) moves so that the protrusion length decreases along with the movement of the first mandrel block (10) and the second mandrel block (20).