Spindle Nut Through-Channel Structure for Self-Cleaning Reed Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reed arrangement in textile machines, particularly when handling cotton threads, faces issues with cotton dust settling on threaded spindles and nuts, leading to seizing and potential damage, and existing solutions like covers are ineffective in preventing deposition and require high cleaning efforts.

Innovation Solution

The spindle nut is designed with through-channels that facilitate self-cleaning by displacing dust and grease mixtures into these channels as the threaded spindle rotates, featuring intersecting angles for effective dirt scraping and positioned to allow easy removal, reducing the risk of damage and maintenance effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a cover is used for the threaded spindle to prevent dust deposition, then protection against contamination is improved, but the cover cannot reliably prevent cotton dust deposition because the spindle nut must move along the threaded spindle requiring the cover to be movable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecotton dust deposition on threaded spindleVSAvoideffectiveness of cover in preventing dust deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful dust and grease mixture is extracted from the threaded spindle surface through the through-channel in the spindle nut. The through-channel acts as an extraction path that removes the contaminant mixture from the critical threading interface, preventing accumulation and seizing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful dust-grease mixture that would normally cause seizing is converted into a removable substance that can be easily discharged through the through-channel. The continuous rotation of the threaded spindle actively transports the contaminant mixture into the through-channel for removal, turning the harmful accumulation process into a self-cleaning mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If the reed arrangement is dismantled for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning effort and damage risk are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectiveness of reed arrangementVSAvoidcleaning effort and dismantling time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spindle nut performs self-cleaning through its own operational movement. As the threaded spindle rotates during normal operation, the spindle nut moves along the threads, and this movement automatically transports the dust-grease mixture into the through-channel for discharge. The system cleans itself during normal operation without requiring external intervention or dismantling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The through-channel is pre-positioned and pre-configured during manufacturing to intercept and remove contaminant mixtures before they can accumulate to harmful levels. The continuous removal action prevents the buildup that would lead to seizing, eliminating the need for periodic dismantling and manual cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the threaded spindle rotates to move the spindle nut, then adjustment function is improved, but dust and grease mixture accumulates on the threaded spindle causing seizing risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment function of reed arrangementVSAvoiddust and grease mixture accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful dust and grease mixture is extracted from the threaded spindle surface through the through-channel in the spindle nut. The through-channel acts as an extraction path that removes the contaminant mixture from the critical threading interface, preventing accumulation and seizing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful dust-grease mixture that would normally cause seizing is converted into a removable substance that can be easily discharged through the through-channel. The continuous rotation of the threaded spindle actively transports the contaminant mixture into the through-channel for removal, turning the harmful accumulation process into a self-cleaning mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This design enables efficient removal of contaminants, minimizing the risk of spindle nut and threaded spindle damage, reducing cleaning effort, and eliminating the need for additional covers, thus maintaining the reed arrangement's integrity and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a tangent to the threaded hole and a tangent to the through-channel enclose an acute angle at a point where the threaded hole and the through-channel intersect. As the lead screw rotates relative to the lead screw nut, the peripheral surface of the lead screw passes a relatively sharp edge which facilitates scraping of dirt from the external threads of the lead screw.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3327311B1Warping machine
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 KARL MAYER STOLL R&D GMBH
  • EP3327311B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A spindle nut (8) for a reed arrangement is specified, having a body (12) which has a threaded bore (13) with an internal thread (14). One would like to keep the risk of damage small, particularly when using the reed arrangement with cotton threads. For this purpose, it is provided that the body (12) has at least one through-channel (15, 16) which overlaps the threaded bore (13) in the radial direction and interrupts the internal thread (14).