Self-Locking Measuring Ruler With Elastic Shaft Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electronic measuring rulers lack a reliable self-locking mechanism, causing them to retract automatically when tension is released, making accurate and sustained measurements difficult.
Innovation Solution
A measuring ruler with a self-locking function featuring a shaft body that can elastically deform radially, combined with a self-locking column and roller, which clamps and fixes the ruler belt when the column is engaged, allowing for controlled locking and unlocking of the measurement state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional electronic ruler uses a spring-based tension mechanism to retract the ruler belt, then the ruler can automatically return to its retracted state, but the ruler cannot be reliably locked and suspended at a measured position without continuous finger pressure on a locking button
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft body is designed with elastic deformation capability in the radial direction, allowing it to automatically expand when the self-locking column engages and clamp the roller without requiring continuous external force. The system serves itself by using the inherent elastic properties of the shaft body material to maintain the locked state autonomously once engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft body transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure capable of radial elastic deformation. This dynamic characteristic allows the shaft body to expand radially when locked and return to its original state when unlocked, enabling reliable locking without continuous manual pressure while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If the locking button is designed to engage a spring mechanism, then the ruler belt can be restrained, but the operator must firmly and continuously press the button to overcome spring tension and maintain locking
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic shaft body automatically expands to clamp the roller when the self-locking column engages, eliminating the need for complex spring tension mechanisms and continuous manual pressure. The system uses its own elastic properties to maintain the locked state independently once engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft body's radial dimension changes dynamically through elastic deformation. When locked, the radial expansion creates the clamping force needed to hold the roller, replacing complex spring mechanisms with a simpler elastic parameter change that maintains reliability without increasing device complexity.
3Strength
If the shaft body is made rigid to provide structural strength, then the overall structure is stable, but the shaft body cannot elastically deform to clamp and fixate the roller for locking
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft body is designed with non-uniform properties: certain regions maintain high rigidity for structural strength while specific sections possess elastic deformation capability in the radial direction. This local differentiation allows the shaft body to simultaneously provide overall structural stability and localized elastic clamping action when locked.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft body employs composite construction combining rigid structural elements with elastic deformation zones. This composite approach enables different regions of the same component to fulfill different functional requirements - structural integrity in some areas and elastic adaptability in others - resolving the contradiction between strength and versatility.
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 reliable and easy-to-use self-locking mechanism that maintains the measurement state without requiring continuous operator pressure, simplifying the structure and reducing manufacturing costs while enabling accurate and convenient measurement suspension.
Implementation Method 1
the shaft body comprises a hollow cylindrical column which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring ruler with self-locking function is presented. The ruler includes a shell and a ruler belt that can be pulled out from the shell. A roller and a shaft body are arranged in the shell, the shaft body connected to the shell. The roller is plugged into the shaft body and rotates along the shaft body to drive the ruler belt. The shaft body includes an inner hollow column which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. The shaft body interacts with a self-locking column that includes a protrusion area with an increased diameter, the protrusion area extending along an axial direction of the column. When the self-locking column is plugged into the shaft body to a locking position, the protrusion area causes the shaft body to deform and widen in the radial direction, so that the roller is clamped and fixated by the shaft body.