Pneumatic Fixation Device with Adjustable Elastic Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial manufacturing, the process of connecting and disconnecting devices using screws is time-consuming and costly, especially when high stability is required, leading to increased manufacturing time and costs due to the need for multiple screws and complex disassembly for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic-fixation connecting device with adjustable elastic units and stop units allows for quick connection and disconnection by varying air pressure, enabling the adjustment of elastic force and length, and facilitates easy replacement of worn-out units, thereby enhancing convenience and extending the device's life cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If screws are used to affix two different devices to achieve stability, then connection stability is improved, but connection time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical screw-fastening system with a pneumatic fixation system. The connecting device uses air pressure to drive a piston that pushes a connecting pin through alignment holes, creating a rapid mechanical connection without requiring manual screw installation. This substitution of mechanical systems eliminates time-consuming manual operations while maintaining connection stability through the pneumatic actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic pressure as the driving force for connection and disconnection operations. Compressed air is introduced into a pneumatic chamber to drive the piston forward, which in turn pushes the connecting pin to secure the connection. For disconnection, reverse pneumatic pressure or elastic units automatically retract the pin. This pneumatic mechanism enables rapid, automated connection and disconnection while ensuring stable mechanical coupling during operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If more screws are used to achieve higher stability standard, then connection stability is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connection function into multiple independent connecting pins distributed across the connecting surfaces. Instead of using multiple screws that all require manual installation, the design employs several simpler pin structures that can be simultaneously actuated by the pneumatic system. This segmentation allows the connection to achieve high stability through distributed contact points while maintaining rapid operation through parallel actuation of multiple pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex multi-screw mechanical fastening systems with a streamlined pneumatic pin-based system. The pneumatic mechanism can simultaneously actuate multiple connecting pins, achieving the stability equivalent of multiple screws without the proportional increase in manual operation time. This substitution dramatically improves manufacturing efficiency by eliminating the linear relationship between stability requirements and connection time.
3Speed
If elastic units are used for pneumatic fixation, then connection speed is improved, but their wear reduces life cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable stop units that can modify the pre-compression force and travel distance of the elastic units. By changing these parameters, the system can optimize the balance between connection speed and elastic unit durability. The stop units allow adjustment of the elastic deformation range, preventing excessive stress that would accelerate wear while maintaining sufficient elastic force for rapid connection and disconnection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the elastic units with adjustable stop units that can dynamically adapt to different operating conditions. The stop units can be repositioned to change the effective stroke and pre-load of the elastic units, allowing the system to optimize performance for different connection speeds and load requirements. This dynamic adjustability extends the life cycle of elastic units by preventing operation in excessively demanding regimes while maintaining high connection speeds when conditions permit.
4Reliability
If elastic units are worn out, then replacement is needed, but disassembly complexity increases maintenance cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the connecting device with modular components including the elastic units, stop units, and connecting pins as separable elements. The elastic units are positioned in accessible locations with dedicated mounting features that allow individual removal and replacement without disassembling the entire device. This segmented modular design enables maintenance personnel to quickly identify and replace worn elastic units, minimizing device downtime and reducing maintenance costs while ensuring reliable operation through easy component renewal.
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 pneumatic-fixation connecting device reduces connection and disconnection time, lowers maintenance costs, and extends the life of elastic units through adjustable force and length, improving manufacturing efficiency and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic units disposed between the body and the movable part
Implementation Method 2
changing air pressure, which forces a sphere between the body and the movable part to affix or release a connecting pin
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic-fixation connecting having a body, a movable part, a plurality of spheres, a plurality of elastic units, and a plurality of stop units is disclosed, wherein each of the elastic units is disposed between the body and the movable part via each of the stop units, respectively. When an external force is applied on the movable part, the distance between the movable part and the body is reduced and the sphere does not block the connecting pin in the extension tube inside the body. When the external force disappears, the distance between the movable part and the body increases such that the sphere affixes the connecting pin and the body. The stop unit can be used, not only to adjust the length and elastic force of the elastic unit so as to extend the life cycle of the elastic unit, but also to help in changing the elastic unit which in turn enhances the efficiency of the replacement work.