Oblique Damper Slats for Vibration Damping in Thread Guide Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thread guide units in the textile industry experience premature wear due to high dynamic and static loads, leading to frequent servicing or repair, primarily caused by vibrations from the rapid directional changes of the deflection or tensioning roller.

Innovation Solution

A thread guide unit equipped with a motion damper featuring obliquely arranged damper slats that provide direction-specific damping, increasing friction during deflection movements while reducing friction resistance during return movements, thereby extending the service life of the traction mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tensioning roller is used to tension the traction mechanism, then the thread guide unit can maintain proper tension, but vibrations occur during rapid directional changes causing premature wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of traction mechanismVSAvoidvibrations and dynamic loads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A motion damper is introduced as an intermediary element between the tensioning roller and the bearing plate. This damper absorbs and dissipates vibration energy, reducing the harmful dynamic loads transmitted to the traction mechanism while maintaining the tensioning function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The damper changes its friction characteristics dynamically based on movement direction. During deflection movements, friction is increased to damp vibrations, while during return movements, friction is reduced to allow smooth motion. This parameter change optimizes both vibration damping and operational smoothness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If damper slats are arranged obliquely to increase friction during deflection, then vibration damping is improved, but friction during return movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping effectivenessVSAvoidfrictional resistance during return movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The damper slats are designed to change their orientation and contact characteristics dynamically during the oscillation cycle. During deflection, the slats engage obliquely to maximize friction and damping. During return movement, the slats shift position to reduce frictional resistance, allowing smooth reversal of motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The damper operates in a periodic manner synchronized with the oscillation cycle of the tensioning roller. Friction is periodically increased during deflection phases for vibration damping and periodically reduced during return phases to minimize resistance, creating an optimal cyclic damping action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic 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 motion damper effectively limits forces acting on the traction device, enhancing the overall service life by efficiently damping vibrations and managing frictional resistance, thus reducing wear and tear.

Implementation Method 1

By raising the damper slats at least in sections, they can become wedged between their base-side abutment and the friction surface. As a result, a surface pressure between the damper plates and the friction surface is increased, as a result of which the friction between the damper element and the friction surface is increased.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

During the return movement of the tensioning roller into its tensioned position, the damper lamellae are further folded away from the friction surface by the relative movement of the free ends of the damper lamellae and the friction surface. As a result, the damper plates bear against the friction surface with less force, which results in less static or sliding friction between the movement damper and the friction surface.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

A thread guide unit with a motion damper that enables reliable damping of undesired vibrations in the thread guide unit and thus an improved service life of the traction means used.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2735535B1Thread guide unit, motion damper for a thread guide unit and method for producing the motion damper
Publication Date: 2015.01.14 SSM SCHIRER SCHWEITER METTLER AG
  • EP2735535B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2735535B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2735535B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The thread guide unit (10) has a thread guide (12) and a traction device (14), which is guided around a deflection roller (16) and a tensioning roller (18), where the thread guide is mounted to the traction device. A drive (24) is provided for back and forth movement of the traction device, where a biasing element (34) is provided, by which a clamping position exciting the tension roller in the traction device, is maintained. Damper plates (46) are frictionally applied with their free ends on a friction surface (48) of the thread guide unit. An independent claim is included for a method for producing a motion damper.