Ski Touring Heel Unit Brake Lock Against Icing Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski brake locks for touring ski bindings fail to operate smoothly under extreme weather conditions, with the ski brake locks for touring ski bindings fail to operate smoothly under extreme weather conditions, leading to icing and mechanical stress, which impairs their functionality.
Innovation Solution
The ski brake lock incorporates a linearly displaceable, spring-loaded actuating rod and a slotted guide with a locking element aligned along the vertical axis of rotation, ensuring reliable operation by maintaining the ski brake in active or inactive positions through engagement and disengagement, protected from external influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ski brake lock operates in extreme weather conditions, then the ski brake can be held in active or inactive positions, but the components are subject to icing and mechanical stress which impairs functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating rod is received in a receptacle within the holding body, and the locking element is received in a receptacle within the heel clamp. This nested arrangement protects the mechanical components from external environmental factors such as icing and mechanical stress, while still allowing them to function reliably in extreme weather conditions.
2Reliability
If the ski brake lock is protected from external influences, then reliability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating rod and locking element are received in receptacles that are already integral parts of the existing heel clamp and holding body structure. This nesting approach provides protection without requiring entirely new structural components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacles serving as protective housings also serve as guidance structures for the actuating rod and locking element movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective and guiding components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 ensures reliable and flawless functioning of the ski brake lock, protecting it from icing and mechanical stress, maintaining smooth operation even in extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a push rod (16) which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski and is spring-loaded in the direction of the ski tip (17)
Implementation Method 2
a locking element (33) which is spring-loaded in the direction of the ski plane (34)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a heel unit for a touring ski binding. In some embodiments, the heel unit, which may include a ski brake lock, may be moved into an entry position, an intermediate position, and a climbing position. In some embodiments, the ski brake lock may include a linearly displaceable, spring-loaded actuating rod connected to the ski brake and a slotted guide located in a heel clamp. The slotted guide may include a locking element aligned along the vertical axis of rotation of the holding body, rotating with the holding body and moving along the axis of rotation, spring-loaded in the direction of the ski plane.