Groove-and-Ridgeline Square Pipe Structure for Precise Member Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structures with joined square pipes face challenges in accurately attaching additional members due to insufficient dimensional accuracy of the outer surface shape, making it difficult to achieve high positional precision.
Innovation Solution
The structure incorporates square pipes with groove portions and ridgeline portions on their outer surfaces, allowing additional members to be attached with high precision through cantilever and overhang portions that are welded to the groove portions, and optionally using notches to relieve stress from dimensional errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If square pipes are joined by welding to form a structure, then the structural strength is improved, but the dimensional accuracy of the outer surface shape deteriorates, making it difficult to attach additional members with high positional precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming groove portions and ridgeline portions on the square pipes before attaching additional members. These pre-formed features serve as precise reference surfaces and positioning structures that guide the attachment process, ensuring high positional precision is achieved despite the inherent dimensional variations from welding the square pipes together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces groove portions and ridgeline portions as intermediary structures between the square pipes and additional members. These intermediaries provide precise geometric references that mediate the attachment process, allowing additional members to be positioned accurately relative to the welded square pipe structure without requiring the square pipes themselves to have perfect dimensional accuracy.
2Device complexity
If additional members are attached to square pipes with insufficient dimensional accuracy, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positional precision of attached components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the attachment interface into distinct groove portions and ridgeline portions on the square pipes, and corresponding cantilever portions and overhang portions on the additional members. This segmentation allows each feature to be optimized independently for its specific function, achieving high positional precision through the coordinated interaction of these segmented features rather than requiring overall high precision of the entire structure.
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
Enables accurate and firm attachment of additional members to the square pipes, enhancing the structural integrity and positional accuracy of components attached to the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
one second corner including two edge portions of the metal plate and a weld portion joining the two edge portions
Implementation Method 2
an edge of the plurality of cantilever portions is welded to the groove portion of each of the plurality of target pipes
Data Source
AI summary
Each of four outer side surfaces of each of a plurality of square pipes includes a groove portion formed along a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of square pipes, and a pair of ridgeline portions on both sides of the groove portion. An additional member has a contact plane that comes in contact with one or both of the pair of ridgeline portions of each of the plurality of target pipes. A plurality of cantilever portions of the additional member come in contact with only one of the pair of ridgeline portions. An overhang portion of the additional member is formed between two specific cantilever portions of the plurality of cantilever portions, and comes in contact with both of the pair of ridgeline portions of the specific pipe. An edge of each of the plurality of cantilever portions is welded to the groove portion.