Resilient Module Mounting System for Chassis Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current modular apparatuses face misalignment and stress issues due to gravity causing modules to drop out of nominal positioning when inserted into a chassis, reducing tolerance for manufacturing variations and leading to misalignment with connectors.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating first and second resilient members between the module and the chassis' weight-bearing surfaces to maintain the module at a desired position, with the resilient members deflecting to bear the module's weight and potentially applying a biasing force to ensure correct alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a module is inserted into a chassis, then the module can be easily installed and connected, but gravity causes the module to drop to the lowermost position, resulting in misalignment and stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of module installationVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces resilient members that act as counterbalancing elements to offset the gravitational force on the module. These members are positioned to provide an upward resilient force that counteracts gravity, preventing the module from dropping to the lowermost position and maintaining proper alignment with connectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient members are pre-installed in the chassis in a compressed or deflected state before module insertion. This preliminary action stores elastic potential energy that is immediately released upon module insertion, providing the counterbalancing force needed to prevent gravitational drop and ensure proper positioning from the start.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the module is allowed to drop to the lowermost position due to gravity, then the module interfaces with the connector, but this reduces the available tolerance for manufacturing variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule insertionVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient members provide a counterbalancing force that prevents the module from dropping to the lowermost position, thereby maintaining the nominal positioning and preserving the tolerance buffer for manufacturing variations. This ensures reliable connector interfaces while still allowing easy module insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient members are pre-positioned and pre-compressed to provide a cushioning effect that absorbs the gravitational drop tendency before the module can settle into a misaligned position. This beforehand cushioning maintains alignment tolerance and connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If resilient members are added to maintain module position, then alignment and stress issues are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidchassis structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient members act as intermediary elements between the chassis and the module, providing the necessary counterbalancing force without requiring fundamental changes to either the chassis or module structures. These intermediaries absorb the complexity of gravitational compensation while maintaining simple interfaces with both the chassis and module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes changes in the physical parameters of the resilient members (such as their stiffness, pre-compression level, and deflection characteristics) to achieve precise control over module positioning. By adjusting these parameters, the system can compensate for gravity and manufacturing variations without adding complex mechanical structures.

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

The resilient members effectively maintain the module in a desired position within the chassis, reducing stress and misalignment, allowing for better tolerance of manufacturing variations and easier insertion, while accommodating modules of varying weights and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a first resilient member which interposes between the module and a weight bearing surface of the chassis, when the module is inserted into the chassis, so as to bear at least a portion of the weight of the module; wherein when said first resilient member is bearing at least a portion of the weight of the module, said module is at a desired position inside the chassis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8102656B2Module mounting system

Publication Date: 2012.01.24 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An apparatus (10) comprises a module (12); a chassis (30) into which the module (12) is able to be inserted; and a first resilient member (38). The resilient member (38) interposes between the module (12) and a weight bearing surface (32) of the chassis (30), when the module (12) is inserted into the chassis (30), so as to bear at least a portion of the weight of the module (12). When the first resilient member (38) bears at least a portion of the weight of the module (12), the module (12) is at a desired position inside the chassis (30).