Quick Link Shutter Locking to Prevent Off-Axis Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Quick links used in acrobatic and mountaineering activities often malfunction by working off their major axis due to changing stress intensities and directions, causing wear on textile components and inefficient operation, as existing solutions like blocking parts and dividers are not transposable to quick links with different operating methods.
Innovation Solution
A quick link design featuring a body with a locking ring and a removable shutter, where the shutter is attached via an independent ring or hook system that allows rotation when open and prevents rotation when closed, using blocking members to secure the shutter in place and prevent unwanted movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a quick link is used without a shutter, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the quick link may work off its major axis causing wear on textile components and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed as a separate removable component that can be attached to or removed from the quick link body. This segmentation allows the quick link to function without the shutter when simplicity is needed, while enabling the shutter to be added when operational security is required, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter acts as an intermediary element between the two ends of the quick link. When attached, it prevents the quick link from working off its major axis by blocking the interaction between the curved portions and inserted items, thereby improving reliability without permanently complicating the basic structure
2Reliability
If the shutter is fixed rigidly to prevent rotation, then operational security is improved, but the shutter cannot adapt to different opening positions reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed with a blocking system that dynamically adapts to the opening position of the locking ring. When the locking ring is open, the shutter can rotate freely to allow access. When the locking ring is closed, the blocking members engage to prevent shutter rotation, thus providing both reliability and adaptability through dynamic behavior rather than fixed constraints
3Reliability
If the blocking system spans the entire opening length, then rotation is completely prevented, but the shutter cannot be removed or adjusted reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking system is designed with blocking members that are spaced apart rather than forming a continuous barrier. This local quality approach provides rotation prevention at critical points while leaving gaps that allow the shutter to be removed or adjusted when needed, thus balancing reliability with ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
The quick link has a body defining an open link with two opposite ends. The body comprises a straight portion separating two curved portions. A locking ring is fitted rotating and sliding with respect to the body with a closed position closing the link and an open position where the quick link is open. A shutter is fitted removable with respect to the body. The shutter defines an attachment means fixing the shutter to the straight portion and a blocking system fixing the shutter to the locking ring. The attachment means and blocking system are formed by a ring or a hook. The attachment means and blocking system allow rotation of the shutter with respect to the body when the locking ring is in the open position and prevent rotation of the shutter when the locking ring is in the closed position.