Rolling Element Bell With Curved Recess For Adjustable Acoustic Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bells do not ring when shaken to a small extent and lack adjustable loudness and tone, due to their structural design which limits the swing cycle and sound production.
Innovation Solution
A rolling element bell with a base section and bell section connected to form a space, allowing the rolling element to roll and hit the bell section, with adjustable curvature of the rolling contact surface to control sound production, and a stop mechanism to prevent movement at low shakes, enabling easy adjustment of sound and tone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a weight is suspended using a suspension member inside a bell section, then the bell structure is simple, but the bell does not ring when shaken to only a small extent and the swing cycle is fixed by the suspension member length
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a curved rolling contact surface with a specific radius of curvature (R1) at the bottom of the recess. This curved surface enables the rolling element to easily roll and hit the bell section even when shaken to a small extent, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and structure complexity by using geometric curvature rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of the rolling contact surface radius (R1) to control the rolling element's motion. By adjusting R1, the bell can be made to ring with small shakes (larger R1) or require larger shakes (smaller R1), providing operational flexibility without increasing structural complexity.
2Speed
If a ball is suspended using a string, then the structure is simple, but the bell does not ring immediately when the bell section has been shaken
Solution Approach 1:
The curved rolling contact surface with radius R1 creates a slope that accelerates the rolling element toward the bell section. This geometric design enables immediate sound production upon shaking by converting even small shaking motions into rapid rolling motion, achieving high rolling speed without complex mechanical drive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved surface design converts the shaking motion into rotational vibration of the rolling element, causing it to rapidly roll and hit the bell section. This mechanical vibration approach enables immediate sound production while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the curvature radius of the rolling contact surface is reduced, then the rolling element less strongly hits the bell section producing a small sound, but the bell requires larger shakes to ring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the parameter R1 (radius of curvature of the rolling contact surface) to control both the ease of rolling and the sound intensity. By selecting an appropriate R1 value, the designer can balance between making the bell easy to roll (larger R1) and controlling the hit strength (smaller R1), thus resolving the contradiction through parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved surface creates a dynamic system where the rolling element's acceleration and hit strength depend on the curvature radius R1. This dynamic relationship allows the bell to adapt its response to different shaking intensities, with smaller R1 values producing gentler sounds that require larger initial shakes, while larger R1 values produce stronger sounds more easily.
4Ease of operation
If the rolling contact surface is made almost flat (increased curvature radius), then sound is produced even when shaken to only a small extent, but the rolling element may not return to center
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a specifically designed curved rolling contact surface with radius R1 that provides enough slope to enable easy rolling and immediate sound production, while maintaining enough curvature to guide the rolling element back toward the center position. This optimal curvature resolves the contradiction between ease of rolling and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved surface acts as a feedback mechanism, where the rolling element's deviation from center creates a gravitational component that naturally guides it back toward the center position. This passive feedback system maintains stability without requiring active control mechanisms.
5Adaptability or versatility
If a groove is formed to restrict the rolling direction, then the rolling path is controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by forming a groove only in the specific location where the rolling element's path needs to be restricted. This localized feature provides sound adjustment capability by controlling the rolling direction without requiring complex mechanical structures throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove segments the rolling path, guiding the rolling element along a specific trajectory toward the bell section. This segmentation of the motion path provides control over the rolling element's behavior while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
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 bell produces sound even when shaken minimally and allows for adjustable pitch, intensity, and tone by modifying the rolling element's path and the elastic support's modulus, ensuring effective sound production across various applications.
Implementation Method 1
the rolling element rolls and hits the bell section when the entire bell is shaken or moved
Implementation Method 2
the base section may be supported by an elastic body
Implementation Method 3
the base section and the bell section are connected so that a given opening or space is formed. This makes it possible to improve resonance
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A bell rings even when shaken to only a small extent, and allows an easy adjustment of loudness and tone. The bell that rings when the entire rolling element bell is shaken, includes a base section having a recess, and a bell section that is supported directly or indirectly by the base section, a rolling element that is adapted to roll in the recess, the rolling element hitting the base section when the entire rolling element bell has been shaken, and the rolling element has rolled to reach an edge of the recess of the base section, and the rolling element bell being configured so that sound produced by the rolling element bell is adjusted by adjusting a contact angle or a contact height of the rolling element with an inner wall of the bell section.