Spring Attachment Site Shielding Against Corrosion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reactor springs in vibratory apparatuses face corrosion and abrasion issues at attachment sites due to compromised coatings, leading to potential failure, and existing solutions like additional coatings are costly and difficult to apply effectively.

Innovation Solution

A spring assembly with a protected attachment site featuring a casing enclosing the spring end, a washer, and a base, forming a multilayered shield to prevent contact with corrosive or abrasive materials, and ensuring a fluid-tight connection to prevent corrosion and abrasion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional coil springs are coated with corrosion-resistant coating, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the coating becomes compromised at contact areas leading to spring failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidcoating compromise at contact areas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring assembly is segmented into distinct protective components: a casing that encloses the spring end, a washer, and a base. This segmentation allows each component to serve a specific protective function, with the casing providing the primary barrier against corrosive and abrasive materials at the vulnerable attachment site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The casing acts as an intermediary barrier between the spring and the harmful external environment. By placing the casing between the spring end and corrosive/abrasive materials, the spring's corrosion-resistant coating is protected from compromise at the attachment site, while still allowing the spring to perform its vibratory function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an additional coating is applied over assembled pieces, then coverage of compromised areas is improved, but the process becomes difficult, time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of compromised areasVSAvoiddifficulty and cost of additional coating process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Protective features are built into the spring assembly design before final assembly and operation. The casing, washer, and base are configured with aligned passages that provide inherent protection to the spring's coating at contact areas, eliminating the need for difficult and costly post-assembly coating processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using expensive and complex additional coating processes to protect the spring, the invention uses simpler, more cost-effective mechanical protective elements (casing, washer, base) that provide adequate protection without requiring specialized coating equipment or procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a multilayered shield is used to protect the spring end, then protection against corrosive and abrasive materials is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against corrosive and abrasive materialsVSAvoidstructure with casing, washer, and base

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The casing, washer, and base components serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical attachment for the spring, create fluid-tight connections to contain process materials, and form a protective shield against corrosive and abrasive substances. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective structure is nested with the casing enclosing the spring end, the washer positioned within or against the casing, and the base providing the outer boundary. This nested arrangement creates an integrated protective assembly that minimizes overall complexity while providing comprehensive protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Duration of action of stationary object

If the attachment site is enclosed to prevent contact with harmful materials, then spring lifespan is extended, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring lifespanVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The casing, washer, and base are designed to work together as an integrated attachment site assembly. The aligned passages in all three components allow them to be assembled together in a straightforward manner, and the entire assembly can be attached to the spring in a single operation, minimizing manufacturing complexity despite the enhanced protection provided.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10385939B2Spring assembly with a protected attachment site

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 GENERAL KINEMATICS CORP

AI summary

A spring assembly includes a coil spring having one or more helical coils between two longitudinally spaced ends, and an attachment site disposed at at least one of the longitudinally spaced ends. The attachment site includes a casing enclosing the at least one of the longitudinally spaced ends, the casing having a casing passage therethrough between a first side and a second side. The attachment site also includes a washer disposed on the first side and having a washer passage aligned with the casing passage, and a base disposed on the second side and having a base passage aligned with the casing passage.