Alpine Ski Binding Heel Piece Vertical-Axis Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Alpine skiing bindings are bulky and heavy due to the limited adjustability of the elastic preload in the heel piece joint, which affects the overall lightness and precision of the attachment, particularly in competitive skiing.
Innovation Solution
A compact heel piece design featuring a vertical-axis joint with a disc and piston mechanism, allowing for adjustable elastic stabilization and calibration of the pin engagement, enabling precise control over the hooking and unhooking configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the elastic organs are housed internally in the female part of the joint, then the joint structure is compact, but the preload value adjustability is poor and the degree of progression is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is divided into two separate parts: the female part (in the base) houses the elastic organs for preload adjustment, while the male part (in the upper block) contains the calibration organs. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling precise preload adjustment without compromising structural compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
A piston is introduced as an intermediary element that transmits the calibration force from the male part to the elastic organs in the female part. The piston enables precise control of the preload value by allowing incremental adjustment through calibration organs, while maintaining the compact internal housing of elastic organs.
2Weight of moving object
If the joint is made smaller to reduce attachment weight, then the overall lightness improves, but the elastic organs become too small to provide adequate preload adjustment range
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration organs are designed to dynamically adjust the preload value during operation. The piston mechanism allows for incremental adjustments while maintaining a compact joint size, enabling the elastic organs to provide adequate preload adjustment range without increasing the overall joint dimensions and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration organs enable continuous adjustment of the preload parameter by modifying the compression force applied to the elastic organs. This allows the joint to maintain optimal performance across varying conditions while keeping the joint size compact, thereby reducing attachment weight without sacrificing adjustment capability.
3Reliability
If the pins are positioned at a predetermined height from the ski platform, then the hooking mechanism functions properly, but the heel piece cannot be made more compact
Solution Approach 1:
The joint utilizes vertical-axis rotation to achieve pin repositioning in three-dimensional space. By rotating the upper block around the vertical axis, the pins can be oriented in different directions and positions while maintaining the same height from the ski platform, enabling compact heel piece design without compromising hooking mechanism functionality.
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 results in a lighter, more reliable, and adjustable heel piece that maintains stability during descent while allowing for easy transition between ascending and descending positions, suitable for competitive skiing.
Implementation Method 1
a piston (31), housed slidably in the base (2) and subjected to the action of elastic organs (32) pressing the piston (31) radially against the hub (40)
Implementation Method 2
a threaded cup (51), engaged in a threaded hole (52) fashioned in the base (2), to screw into said hole (52) so as to modify the preload of said elastic organs (32)
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The heel piece (1) is constituted by a base (2) fixed to the ski (S) and by an upper block (4) bearing attachment pins (5) to the boot. The block (4), by means of a vertical-axis joint (3), is rotatable with respect to the base (2), in order to define two use configurations, respectively a hooked (K) configuration and a non-hooked (W) configuration of the pins (5) to the relative boot. The joint (3) is defined by a vertical-axis hub (40), solidly constrained to the block (4), projecting downwards and destined to rotatably couple with a circular seating (20) realised in the base 2. Positioning organs (30) are associated to the joint (3), destined to define and elastically stabilise the two use configurations (K, W) of the heel piece (1). Calibration organs (50) are in turn associated to the positioning organs (30), which calibration organs (50) are destined to vary resistance to rotation offered by the block (4) from a minimum to a maximum.