Segmented Elastic Connecting Element for Controlled Drill Bending
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastic connecting elements have insufficient strength and uncontrollable bending degrees, leading to inefficient force transmission, and flexible drills have a dense shaft that is difficult to clean and sterilize, resulting in resource waste.
Innovation Solution
An elastic connecting element with a cylindrical outer housing formed by connecting bodies with convex teeth and grooves, allowing for controlled bending and easy cleaning, and a processing method using laser cutting to enhance strength and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the flexible shaft is made dense to improve strength, then the strength is improved, but the bending degree cannot be well controlled and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible shaft is divided into multiple connecting bodies with convex teeth and grooves that can segment and disconnect during bending, allowing controlled bending degrees while maintaining strength. The segmentation enables each section to move independently, solving the contradiction between strength and bending control.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible shaft adopts a porous-like structure with gaps between connecting bodies, allowing cleaning solutions to penetrate through the shaft. This structure maintains strength through the connecting bodies while enabling easy cleaning, resolving the contradiction between strength and cleanability.
2Strength
If the flexible shaft is made dense to improve strength, then the strength is improved, but cleaning and sterilization become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented structure with convex teeth and grooves creates channels for cleaning solutions to flow through, making the flexible shaft easy to clean and sterilize while maintaining structural strength through the connecting bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible shaft incorporates a porous-like structure with intentional gaps between connecting bodies, allowing cleaning agents to penetrate and flush through the entire length of the shaft, solving the cleaning difficulty while maintaining strength through the rigid connecting bodies.
3Ease of manufacture
If the elastic connecting element is designed with simple structure, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the force transmission function is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The convex teeth are pre-formed on the connecting bodies during manufacturing, creating built-in force transmission mechanisms that engage automatically during bending. This preliminary structuring enables effective force transmission without complex additional components, maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 provides a high-strength elastic connecting element with controlled bending and improved cleanliness, reducing resource waste and manufacturing costs, while allowing for efficient force transmission and repeated use of flexible drills.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic part (3), and an outer housing (1) sleeved over the elastic part (3)
Implementation Method 2
the two adjacent connecting bodies (4) are connected by fitting the convex teeth (402) of one of the connecting bodies (4) with the grooves of the other connecting body
Data Source
AI summary
An elastic connecting element, a processing method thereof and a flexible drill including the elastic connecting element are provided. The elastic connecting element includes an elastic part and an outer housing sleeved over the elastic part, the outer housing being formed by connecting a plurality of connecting bodies; the connecting body including a main body and convex teeth provided at two ends of the main body; a groove being formed between each two adjacent convex teeth in each connecting body, such that the two adjacent connecting bodies are connected by fitting the convex teeth of one connecting body with the grooves of the other connecting body.