Piano-Action Mechanical Connections Using Interlocking Concavity and Convexity Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional piano-actions are sensitive to environmental temperature and humidity, leading to high maintenance costs and manufacturing difficulties with metallic and carbon fiber components, as well as frequent failures with plastic shafts.
Innovation Solution
The piano-action employs a mechanical connection mechanism using a concavity and convexity structure with a thin, flexible tape that clips together without adhesives, allowing components to move relative to each other through deformation, eliminating the need for shafts and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional wooden main structure is used in piano-action, then manufacturing cost is low, but sensitivity to temperature and humidity increases leading to frequent adjustments and high maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional wood to plastic for the main structure of piano-action. This parameter change makes the structure less sensitive to temperature and humidity variations, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and lowering maintenance costs while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Reliability
If carbon fiber material is used in main structure, then dependency on temperature and humidity is reduced, but material cost and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive carbon fiber material with a cheaper plastic material for the main structure. While plastic may have shorter lifespan under extreme conditions, it provides sufficient stability for normal environmental variations at a fraction of the cost, making it an economically viable solution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from carbon fiber to plastic, achieving a balance between environmental stability and manufacturing cost. The plastic material is selected to have appropriate thermal and humidity resistance for the intended application, providing sufficient reliability without the high cost of carbon fiber
3Reliability
If plastic piano-action is produced, then dependency on temperature and humidity is reduced, but shafts require composite linings that are difficult to manufacture and assemble with frequent failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the shaft component from the piano-action design. By eliminating the rotating shaft and its complex composite linings, the design simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes while reducing failure points. The plastic main structure directly accommodates the necessary mechanical functions without requiring separate shaft assemblies
4Strength
If shafts are used in rotating devices or components under small impulsive forces, then mechanical connection is achieved, but manufacturing difficulties and potential failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the shaft component from the design. The plastic main structure is designed to directly provide mechanical connections and accommodate rotational movements through integrated features, eliminating the need for separate shaft assemblies and their associated manufacturing complexities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of the shaft into the plastic main structure itself. The main structure is designed with integrated features that provide both structural support and rotational capability, combining multiple functions into a single component to simplify manufacturing and reduce failure points
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 solution reduces the dependency on environmental conditions, simplifies manufacturing, and minimizes component failures, thereby lowering maintenance and production costs while ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the moving components includes an elastic portion, the one or more moving components are configured to move, relatively to each other, through deformation of the elastic portion of the at least one moving component
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a piano-action. The piano-action may comprises a first moving component including a concavity structure, a second moving component including a convexity structure, wherein the convexity structure and the concavity structure are configured to match each other and capable of being clipped together, and a third moving component being thin and flexible and configured to fixedly fit between the first moving component and the second moving component when the convexity structure of the second moving component is clipped into the concavity structure of the first moving component.