Skate Iron Resilient Spring System for Speed and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skate designs fail to enhance speed and maneuverability for sports like ice hockey, bandy, and figure skating while maintaining control and stability, as hinged skate irons compromise control during deceleration and turning, and energy-storing devices disrupt performance.
Innovation Solution
A skate design featuring a resilient spring system between the skate iron and shoe/boot section, allowing vertical movement with a hinge or sliding mechanism, which stores energy for enhanced maneuvers and maintains stability through telescoping parts and adjustable tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a hinged skate iron is used to improve back-kick and speed, then speed is improved, but control during deceleration and turning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The skate iron is divided into a fixed heel section and a movable toe section connected by a hinge. The heel section remains fixed to the shoe/boot part to maintain control during deceleration and turning, while the toe section can move independently to improve back-kick and speed during the pushing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The skate iron transitions from a completely fixed structure to a dynamic structure with a hinge joint. This allows the toe section to adapt its position based on the skating motion - remaining stable during control-critical maneuvers and becoming movable during the propulsive back-kick phase to enhance speed.
2Speed
If a resilient energy-storing device is added to assist abrupt accelerating movements, then speed and maneuverability are improved, but the skate becomes less dependable and harder to manoeuvre
Solution Approach 1:
A resilient device is introduced as an intermediary element between the skate iron and the shoe/boot part. This device acts as a mediator that stores and releases energy to assist acceleration, while the hinge connection and telescoping parts ensure that this energy storage mechanism does not compromise the overall stability and control of the skate during maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient device changes the mechanical parameters of the skate system by introducing elasticity and energy storage capability. The device can be adjusted to provide appropriate tension, allowing optimization between acceleration assistance and maintainability of control and reliability during various skating maneuvers.
3Reliability
If the skate iron section is subjected to largest load and wear requiring continuous sharpening, then cutting performance is maintained, but the skate blade becomes smaller and requires frequent changing
Solution Approach 1:
The skate iron is segmented into a heel section and a toe section that can move independently. This segmentation allows the toe section to absorb some of the wear and impact through its movable hinge connection, potentially distributing wear more evenly and reducing the frequency of sharpening and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic hinge connection allows the skate iron to adapt to loading conditions, potentially reducing concentrated wear on the blade by distributing forces more effectively during skating maneuvers, thereby extending the service life of the blade.
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 design improves speed and maneuverability by storing and releasing energy during movements, maintaining control and stability across various skating maneuvers, and allowing for adjustable tension to fit different user weights, while preventing ice and snow ingress.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient device bouncing in the vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
resilient spring system between the skate iron and shoe/boot section
Implementation Method 3
a hinge or a sliding device allowing said movement of the shoe/boot part of the skate in the vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
A skate including a shoe/boot part and a skate iron/blade part, wherein the skate iron/blade part includes a skate iron/blade and a rear and forward intermediate mounting element connecting the skate iron/blade to the shoe/boot part, wherein at least a part of the forward mounting element may be compressed in the vertical direction, said forward mounting element being equipped with a resilient device that may be compressed through vertically loading the skate and that mainly returns to its original form when the vertical load of the skate diminishes.