Rotatable Outrigger Mounting Assembly for Reduced Tube Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outriggers experience premature wear and failure due to inadequate degrees of freedom in motion, undesirable rotational motion from non-coplanar mounting points, and excessive strain on attachment points when using rigid materials like carbon fiber.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly with a pivotable clevis body and slotted openings that restrict axial movement and allow rotational movement, using fasteners to couple to a tube, providing smooth operation and reducing wear by isolating materials with galvanic and abrasive protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid tubular materials like carbon fiber are used, then strength and rigidity are improved, but wear and premature failure increase due to excessive strain on attachment points
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly incorporates a pivotable clevis body that can rotate relative to the tube, allowing dynamic adjustment of the mounting angle. This rotational degree of freedom enables the rigid carbon fiber tube to accommodate angular variations without transmitting excessive strain to the attachment points, thereby reducing wear while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted opening in the mounting body allows for adjustment of the mounting angle parameter. By changing the angular orientation within the slot, the system can optimize the force distribution across the rigid tube, reducing concentrated strain at attachment points and preventing premature wear.
2Ease of operation
If semi-rigid materials are used to allow twisting, then rotational motion is accommodated, but accelerated wear and tear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using semi-rigid materials that twist, the invention employs a rigid tube combined with a pivotable mounting body. The rotational accommodation is achieved through the clevis pin allowing the mounting body to rotate relative to the tube, separating the rotational function from the structural material and eliminating the wear associated with twisting semi-rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable mounting body acts as an intermediary between the rigid tube and the mounting point. It absorbs the rotational motion through its ability to pivot, protecting the rigid tube and attachment points from the wear that would otherwise occur if the tube itself had to twist or bend.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mounting points are positioned to accommodate curved boat surfaces, then adaptability is improved, but undesirable rotational motion is imparted on tubes causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable mounting body allows the system to adapt to various mounting point positions on curved boat surfaces while maintaining tube integrity. The rotational degree of freedom at the mounting body absorbs the angular variations caused by non-coplanar mounting points, preventing these variations from being transmitted as damaging rotational motion to the rigid tube.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting assembly for an outrigger. The mounting assembly includes a mounting body adapted to be received by a tube and pivotably couple to a mounting point. The mounting body includes a slotted opening adapted to receive a fastener to restrict axial movement of the mounting body relative to the tube and permit rotational movement of the tube relative to the mounting body.