Pin-in-Slot Linkage Assembly for Constant-Length Material Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical linkages in machines fail to maintain a constant length of the material layer across a range of motion, leading to in-plane strain and limitations in compact storage and deployment configurations, particularly in applications like fuel tanks and airfoils.
Innovation Solution
A linkage assembly with pin-in-slot joints that form a virtual pivot on the material layer, allowing the material to maintain a constant length across various configurations by rotating and translating linkages, reducing or eliminating in-plane strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical linkages are used to enable rotation and translation of linkages, then the structure can change configuration, but the material layer experiences in-plane strain and length variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual pivot point as an intermediary concept that mediates between the rotating linkages and the material layer. This virtual pivot, created by the pin-in-slot joint mechanism, allows the linkages to rotate and translate while maintaining a constant distance relationship with the material layer, thereby enabling configuration changes without inducing in-plane strain or length variation in the material layer.
2Volume of moving object
If the structure is designed for compact storage and transport in flattened configuration, then storage efficiency improves, but maintaining structural integrity and constant material length during deployment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic linkage mechanisms with pin-in-slot joints that allow the structure to transition smoothly between flattened storage configuration and deployed operational configuration. The virtual pivot point created by this mechanism ensures that during the dynamic transformation process, the material layer maintains constant length and structural integrity, enabling compact storage while preserving strength during deployment.
3Strength
If high-modulus materials like aluminum and steel are used for the material layer, then structural strength and resistance to deformation improve, but the material cannot accommodate linkage motion without in-plane strain
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual pivot point acts as an intermediary that decouples the motion of the linkages from the material layer. This allows high-modulus materials like aluminum and steel to be used in the material layer for superior strength and deformation resistance, while the pin-in-slot joint mechanism with virtual pivot accommodates the linkage motion without transmitting in-plane strain to the rigid material layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable structure includes one or more linkage assemblies that are each formed by one or more linkage chains of a plurality of linkages. Neighboring pairs of linkages of each linkage chain are rotatably coupled to each other via a first pin-in-slot joint and a second pin-in-slot joint. The reconfigurable structure includes a material layer mounted to the plurality of linkages of each linkage assembly. The material layer maintains a constant length across a range of motion of each linkage assembly, thereby reducing or eliminating in-plane strain of the material layer across the range of motion. In an example, the reconfigurable structure can provide a first configuration corresponding to an annular tube shape for a fluid vessel, conduit, or other suitable structure, and a second configuration corresponding to a flattened shape. The flattened shape of the second configuration can be used for storage and transport of the reconfigurable structure.