Profiled Belt Attachment via Claw Section Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing belt profile attachment methods, such as welding or adhesive bonding, restrict material selection and make it difficult to assess the lifespan of the profile, and screw-based attachments are cumbersome for mounting and detachment.

Innovation Solution

A belt profile design where the profile body and claw section are integrally formed, allowing easy attachment and detachment by inserting the side edge of the toothed belt between the profile body and claw section, with the claw section positioned on the tooth surface to prevent longitudinal movement and obstruction during meshing with the pulley.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welding or adhesive bonding is used to attach the profile to the belt, then the profile is securely fixed, but the material selection is restricted and the profile cannot be detached for lifespan assessment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile fixation reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment structure is divided into separate components: the profile body and the claw section that engages with the toothed belt. This segmentation allows the profile to be detached and reattached, enabling lifespan assessment and flexible material selection while maintaining secure fixation during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism transitions from a static permanent bond (welding/adhesive) to a dynamic reversible connection. The claw section can be engaged or disengaged from the toothed belt, allowing the profile to be securely fixed during operation but easily removed for inspection or replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If welding or adhesive bonding is used to attach the profile to the belt, then the profile is securely fixed, but it becomes difficult to judge the lifespan of the profile

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile fixation reliabilityVSAvoidprofile lifespan assessment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism allows the profile to be dynamically removed and reattached. This reversibility enables direct visual inspection of the profile's wear and condition, making lifespan assessment straightforward while maintaining secure fixation during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Strength

If the profile is integrally molded with the belt, then the attachment is permanent and strong, but the investment cost increases and dimensional changes are difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The profile and belt are manufactured as separate components that are subsequently assembled. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex integral molding processes, reducing investment costs and allowing easy adjustment of dimensional specifications for both components independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

While the profile and belt are manufactured separately, they are combined through the claw section engagement mechanism to form a unified assembly that functions as a single strong unit, achieving attachment strength comparable to integral molding without the manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the profile is attached by screwing as in Patent Document 1, then the profile can be detached, but the mounting and detachment procedures are troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofile detachabilityVSAvoidmounting and detachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment structure is segmented into the profile body and the claw section that engages with the toothed belt's side edge. This simple segmentation allows the profile to be attached or detached by a single insertion or removal motion, eliminating the need for complex screwing procedures while maintaining detachability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2216274B1Belt profile and profiled belt

Publication Date: 2014.11.05 THE GATES CORP

Figure 1
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AI summary

This invention provides a belt profile and profiled belt that can be easily mounted to and detached from a toothed belt. Specifically, a profile body 4 and a claw section 6 are integrally formed via a connection section 7. A side edge section 3a of the toothed belt 3 is inserted between the profile body 4 and the claw section 6 from an inner side in the belt width direction. The profile body 4 is arranged on a rear surface side of the toothed belt 3. The claw section 6 is arranged at the side edge section 3a, on the tooth surface side. The connection section 7 passes outside the side surface of the toothed belt 3. The profile 1 is mounted on the toothed belt 3 by engaging the claw section 6 with a belt tooth 5 while the profile body 4 and the claw section 6 sandwich the side edge section 3a. The profile 1 is removed from the toothed belt 3 by performing these procedures in reverse order.