Rod Belt Clip Assembly to Reduce Pilot Bolt Transverse Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt clip systems for rod belt conveyors, particularly in agricultural machines, face challenges with transverse forces and frictional resistance due to manufacturing and installation tolerances, leading to inefficient clamping and reliability issues during assembly and operation.
Innovation Solution
A belt clip set with pilot bolts featuring guide and thread openings arranged to allow for play, reducing transverse forces and friction, and oblong holes to accommodate position changes, ensuring a secure and reliable clamping mechanism without lateral pressure on the pilot bolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pilot bolts are rigidly fixed in guide openings without play, then manufacturing precision is improved, but transverse forces and frictional resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide openings are designed with intentional dimensional play (larger than the pilot bolt diameter) to allow positional adjustment. This parameter change transforms the rigid fixation into a flexible connection that accommodates manufacturing tolerances while preventing harmful transverse forces and friction during tightening.
2Adaptability or versatility
If guide openings are made larger to accommodate tolerances, then adaptability is improved, but contact surface area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide opening dimensions are optimized to provide sufficient play for tolerance accommodation while maintaining adequate contact surface area. The opening size is carefully parameterized to balance adaptability with sufficient bearing surface for force transmission.
3Manufacturing precision
If pilot bolts are tightened perpendicular to the belt, then manufacturing precision is improved, but installation complexity increases due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The connection is segmented into two functional parts: guide openings that provide lateral positioning with play, and thread openings that provide rotational tightening. This segmentation allows the pilot bolt to be inserted with lateral play first, then tightened rotationally, separating the positioning and tightening functions to reduce assembly difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide openings transition from a static rigid constraint to a dynamic flexible constraint that allows lateral movement during insertion and tightening. This dynamic capability enables the pilot bolt to self-adjust to tolerance variations without requiring precise perpendicular alignment during assembly.
4Reliability
If transverse forces are eliminated through play, then reliability is improved, but clamping force transmission efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The guide opening dimensions are precisely parameterized to provide minimal play that eliminates transverse forces during tightening while maintaining sufficient contact surface for efficient clamping force transmission. The parameter optimization ensures that play is present during assembly but not during the actual clamping operation.
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 solution minimizes frictional forces and bending moments, allowing for efficient transmission of clamping force, enhancing the reliability and durability of the belt connection by optimizing the clamping effect and accommodating installation tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
screwed via its threaded region or, respectively, via the external thread into the respectively associated thread opening in the second leg
Implementation Method 2
the pin itself in the belt when the force and/or the rotation is exerted on the pilot bolt
Implementation Method 3
minimized frictional forces on contact faces between the pilot bolt, in particular beneath the bolt head, and the respective guide opening
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a belt clip set comprising a belt clip and at least two pilot bolts, the belt clip comprising a first leg having at least two guide openings and a second leg having at least two thread openings each associated with the guide openings. Each pilot bolt comprising a threaded region with an external thread, a bolt head for tightening the pilot bolt, and a tapered pin opposite the bolt head, where each pilot bolt can be received with some play in one of the guide openings in the first leg and via its threaded region screwed into the respective associated thread opening in the second leg, where each pilot bolt can be received with some play in one of the guide openings in the first leg and via its threaded region screwed into the respective associated thread opening in the second leg.