Strand Element Guide Device for Profile Strand Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strand elements, such as chains or racks, have limited usability in alternative applications due to their design, which restricts their functionality and versatility, especially when trying to integrate with profile strands produced using extrusion processes with specific cross-sections that are challenging to produce when sections run transversely to the longitudinal alignment.
Innovation Solution
A strand element with coupling devices and a guide device that allows for easy alignment and fixation on a separate profile strand, featuring a receiving area for counter-devices and guide devices that cooperate with profile grooves, enabling the strand element to be connected and fixed in a stationary manner, thereby simplifying the integration with profile strands and reducing production effort for transverse sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a strand element is designed with traditional coupling devices for chains or racks, then it achieves basic coupling functionality, but its usability for alternative applications and integration with profile strands is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is designed with a receiving area that can accommodate different counter devices, making the strand element universally applicable for multiple functions including coupling, locking, and positioning with various profile strand configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device is divided into functional components including a receiving area for counter devices and integration features for profile strands, allowing independent optimization of each function while maintaining overall versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If profile sections are required extending transversely to the longitudinal orientation of the profile strand, then functional versatility is improved, but manufacturing effort increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device extends at least partially transversely to the longitudinal orientation of the profile strand, utilizing the transverse dimension to provide coupling functionality without requiring complex transverse profile sections, thus maintaining simple extrusion manufacturing for the profile strand while achieving functional versatility
3Ease of operation
If the strand element is designed to be freely movable along the profile strand, then ease of positioning is improved, but stability and fixed positioning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The strand element incorporates both movable and fixed positioning capabilities through the interaction between coupling devices and counter devices, allowing dynamic adjustment during installation followed by stable fixed positioning when engaged with counter devices that limit displacement path
4Adaptability or versatility
If coupling devices are distributed along the strand for multiple coupling points, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coupling devices are integrated into a single strand element structure, combining multiple coupling functions into one component that can be installed as a single unit, thereby reducing the number of separate components while maintaining distributed coupling capability along the strand
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a strand element (29, 63, 67, 70) with an elongated strand (49), with several coupling devices (48, 54, 71, 72, 73) distributed in the longitudinal direction of the strand (49) for coupling and/or locking with a counter device (27, 80, 81) designed to correspond to the coupling devices (48, 54, 71, 72, 73).The functionality and/or usability of the string element (29, 63, 67, 70) is improved by the coupling devices (48, 54, 71, 72, 73) and the counter device (27, 80, 81) being designed to limit a displacement path and/or to fix the counter device (27, 80, 81) in a fixed position relative to a separate profile string (43) and/or the string element (29, 63, 67, 70), and the string (49) having at least one guide device (51, 52, 53) for fixedly arranging the string (49) on a separate profile string (43), wherein the guide device (51, 52, 53) is designed to align the longitudinal axis of the string (49) in the longitudinal direction of the profile string (43).