Hard Part Assembly on Pivot Member Using Malleable Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for assembling hard parts on pivot members, such as those made of silicon, diamond, or other materials with high hardness, face challenges due to the lack of plastic deformation, leading to fragility and unsatisfactory rotational securing, especially under high torque applications.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a pivot member with a tubular portion and a bearing surface, where a malleable element is deformed to create lugs within the hard part's housing, securing it without degrees of freedom and distributing torque stresses effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional driving-in methods are used to assemble hard parts on pivot members, then the assembly process is simple, but the hard part breaks due to lack of plastic deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly process simplicityVSAvoidpart integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A malleable element is introduced as an intermediary between the hard part and the pivot member. This malleable element deforms under driving-in forces to create lugs that engage with housings in the hard part, allowing secure assembly without subjecting the hard part to breaking stresses. The malleable element absorbs the deformation that would otherwise occur in the fragile hard part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If an elastic structure is provided at the hub of the hard part to enable assembly, then assembly on axis becomes possible, but complementary members are required to eliminate degrees of freedom

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly capabilityVSAvoidnumber of complementary members
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of the elastic structure and the rotational securing mechanism into a single integrated solution. The malleable element simultaneously provides the elastic deformation capability needed for assembly and forms lugs that secure rotation, eliminating the need for separate complementary members to address each function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If significant radial stress is applied to the hard part during driving out of intermediate part, then rotational securing may be satisfactory under high torque, but the hard part is subjected to damaging stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational securingVSAvoidpart stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The malleable element serves as a mediator that absorbs the radial stresses during the driving-out process. Instead of applying significant radial stress to the hard part, the malleable element deforms to create lugs that engage with the housings, providing rotational securing without subjecting the hard part to damaging stresses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Strength

If hard parts made of materials with hardness greater than 500 Vickers are used, then material performance is improved, but assembly becomes difficult due to lack of plastic domain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial hardnessVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The malleable element acts as an intermediary that enables assembly of hard parts by providing the necessary plastic deformation capability. The hard part itself does not need to deform; instead, the malleable element deforms to create securing lugs, allowing high-hardness materials to be assembled without modification to their fundamental properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter of the assembly system by introducing a malleable element with appropriate plasticity characteristics. This allows the hard part to maintain its high hardness while the overall assembly system gains the deformation capability needed for secure assembly through the malleable element's ability to undergo plastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method securely fixes the hard part on the pivot member without applying radial stress, enhancing its rotational stability and ease of assembly, while ensuring the hard part's integrity under torque applications.

Implementation Method 1

deforming the malleable element irreversibly so as to create lugs formed by the malleable element and housed inside the housing without degree of freedom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2273322B1Method for mounting a part on a pivoting element
Publication Date: 2012.05.23 CHOPARD TECH
  • EP2273322B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2273322B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3
  • EP2273322B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

This is a method for assembling a hard part (18) made of a material having a hardness greater than 500 Vickers, onto a pivoting member (10), comprising the following steps: i. providing a pivoting member (10) comprising a tubular portion and a bearing surface (12) extending around the tubular portion, ii. freely introducing the hard part (18) onto the pivoting member (10) around the tubular portion, said hard part (18) having at least one previously produced structure defining an inlet (20) and bringing the hard part into contact with a malleable element (16) also disposed on the pivoting member (10) around the tubular portion, so that the latter is positioned on the inlet (20) of the structure, the assembly formed by the hard part (18) and the malleable element (16) being supported on the bearing surface, iii.deform the malleable element irreversibly so as to create lugs (24) formed by the washer (16) and housed inside the structure without degree of freedom, the malleable element having been made integral with the pivoting member (10).