Pivotable Strut Coupler With Flexing Retainer Against Overload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotational couplings fail under excessive loading, causing struts to pivot beyond design-intent angles and break strut retainers, leading to debris release or strut dislodgment.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable strut coupler with a housing, strut, and strut retainer featuring weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure, allowing the strut retainer to elastically deform without breaking, and an actuator to manage strut engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the strut retainer is made rigid to securely retain the strut, then the retention strength is improved, but the retainer breaks under excessive loading when the strut pivots beyond design-intent angles
Solution Approach 1:
The strut retainer incorporates weakenings that change its structural parameter from rigid to resilient, enabling it to flex elastically under excessive loading rather than breaking, while maintaining sufficient retention strength during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The weakenings are pre-positioned in the strut retainer to facilitate controlled elastic deformation before failure occurs, cushioning the impact of excessive loading and preventing catastrophic breakage
2Reliability
If the strut retainer is made resilient to prevent breakage, then the reliability is improved, but the retention strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The strut retainer features localized weakenings only in specific regions, allowing those areas to be resilient while other portions maintain full strength for secure retention during normal operation
3Device complexity
If the strut pocket has a single transverse opening, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The strut pocket is formed as a single integrated structure with forward, rearward, and transverse portions, avoiding the need for multiple separate openings and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining precise dimensional control
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 design prevents strut retainer breakage by enabling elastic deformation of the strut retainer, maintaining retention of the strut and preventing debris release, even under extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The strut retainer includes weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure of the strut retainer
Data Source
AI summary
A strut retainer may include strut ear retainers at least partially defined by weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure. A pivotable strut coupler may include a housing, a strut carried by the housing, and a strut retainer coupled to the housing and straddling transversely across a portion of the strut. The housing includes a strut pocket in a base surface and having a transverse pocket portion extending transversely with respect to at least one of a forward pocket portion or a rearward pocket portion of the housing along a transverse axis. The strut is carried in the strut pocket and includes ears extending in directions transversely away from sides of the strut and carried in a transversely extending transverse pocket portion of the strut pocket. The strut retainer straddles the portion of the strut including the ears, and includes weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure of the strut retainer.