Screening Suspension Assembly for Crease-Free Rack Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screening arrangements face challenges in easy installation while ensuring the integrity of the screening body, often leading to unintentional folding or creasing during mounting.

Innovation Solution

The suspension assembly allows the cogwheel of the first transmission means to perform a substantially part-circular movement about a centre of rotation located on the screening plane, with the inner and outer parts of the suspension assembly configured for controlled movement, including biased engagement and modular design features to prevent unintentional folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the suspension assembly uses a traditional linear movement mechanism for the cogwheel, then the mounting process becomes simpler, but the screening body may fold or crease unintentionally during installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of mountingVSAvoidintegrity of screening body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by defining a centre of rotation on the screening plane, causing the cogwheel to follow a part-circular path rather than a linear trajectory. This curved movement path ensures that the screening body is lifted smoothly without folding or creasing during engagement of the transmission means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The suspension assembly is designed so that the cogwheel automatically performs the part-circular movement and engages with the rack in the correct sequence during mounting. This preliminary controlled movement prevents improper engagement that could cause folding before the screening body is properly positioned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the cogwheel is allowed to rotate freely during mounting, then engagement with the rack is easier, but the screening body may be damaged due to uncontrolled movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of engagementVSAvoidprotection of screening body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The part-circular movement path defined by the centre of rotation on the screening plane provides controlled rotation rather than free rotation. This ensures the cogwheel engages with the rack in a predetermined manner that prevents uncontrolled movement and potential damage to the screening body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The suspension assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cogwheel and the rack. It mediates the engagement process by enforcing a specific part-circular movement path, ensuring that the cogwheel and rack engage smoothly without causing damage to the screening body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the centre of rotation is located close to the transmission means, then the rotation angle required for disengagement is smaller, but the lift of the cogwheel out of engagement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation angleVSAvoiddisengagement of cogwheel
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the position parameter of the centre of rotation on the screening plane to achieve the right balance. By carefully selecting the location, the design ensures that a limited rotation angle produces sufficient lift of the cogwheel out of engagement with the rack, while maintaining simple disengagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4390047B1Screening arrangement comprising a suspension assembly, and a method of mounting the screening arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP4390047B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4390047B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4390047B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The screening arrangement (10) comprises a screening body (15), two side rails (12), a bottom element (14) positionable in a longitudinal direction (L) by means of electric drive means (22) comprising first transmission means including a cogwheel (144) at each end of the bottom element (14) and second transmission means including a rack (124) arranged in each of the side rails (12, 13). A suspension assembly (40) comprises an inner part (41) provided with said first transmission means, and an outer part (42). The suspension assembly (40) is configured such that the cogwheel (144) of the first transmission means is allowed to perform a substantially part-circular movement about a centre of rotation (CR) located on said screening plane (SP) during movement of the inner part (41) relative to the outer part (42) when moving from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition and vice versa.