Vehicle Roller Blind Spring Core Torque Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle window blinds require complex and costly production processes for their components, such as the winding shaft and bearing devices, leading to time-consuming and expensive manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle window blind design featuring a spring heart rotatably mounted in the bearing device, with a peg-shaped shaft end for torque-proof connection, allowing for a simpler winding shaft design and direct attachment to the vehicle body, eliminating the need for complex molds and additional carrier units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a one-piece elongated spring driver with rectangular or square cross section is used to connect the spiral spring to the winding shaft, then the torque transmission is reliable, but the production process becomes complex and expensive requiring complicated injection molds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission reliabilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the spring driver into two separate components: a circular cross-section tube that forms part of the winding shaft, and a separate spring driver element with the rectangular or square cross section. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simple circular injection molds, eliminating the need for complex molded contours while maintaining the reliable torque transmission connection between the spiral spring and winding shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a complicated inner contour of the hollow winding shaft is produced to match the spring driver, then the torque transmission is effective, but the manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the torque transmission function from the winding shaft structure by using a distinct spring driver element. The winding shaft maintains a simple circular hollow tube contour that is easy to manufacture, while the separate spring driver element provides the necessary rectangular or square cross section for effective torque transmission. This eliminates the need for complicated inner contours in the winding shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If bearing devices are designed to be directly attached to the vehicle body, then the structure is simplified and fewer components are needed, but the mounting requirements become more demanding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidmounting difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the bearing device housing with the mounting function by integrating mounting means directly into the bearing device structure. The bearing device housing serves dual purposes: supporting the winding shaft and providing direct attachment to the vehicle body through integrated mounting elements such as screw connections, clips, or positive locking features. This eliminates the need for separate carrier units or mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design enables quick and reliable assembly with cost savings, a compact structure, and secure mounting of the roller blind, absorbing forces directly through the vehicle body, while allowing for both manual and motor-driven operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one spiral or scroll spring (32), which is operatively connected with its inner spring end (32a) to a shaft end (WZ2) of the winding shaft (W) and prestresses it in the winding direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2062767B8Vehicle roller blind with tensioning spring and spring core
Publication Date: 2010.02.17 HS PRODS ENG

AI summary

The blind has a winding shaft for unwinding and winding a blind strip, where the shaft, which is formed as a hollow pipe is rotatably supported with pin-shaped shaft ends in vehicle-fixed bearing devices (20) and pretensions the ends in a winding direction. The shaft is supported with an outer spring end (32b) at one of the bearing devices. An inner end (32a) of a spiral spring (32) stays in effective connection with the shaft over a spring core (30) that is rotatably supported in the bearing device, where the shaft ends are inserted into the core in a torque-firm manner.