Anti-rotation Tensioning Element for Swing Damper Screw Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Swing dampers used in crane jibs face the challenge of maintaining mechanical tensioning stability, as the tightening screw can loosen during operation, leading to inconsistent braking or damping performance.

Innovation Solution

A tensioning element with a pin, sleeve, and adjusting screw mechanism that includes an anti-rotation element and locking ring to maintain the set braking force by preventing rotational movement of the screw, ensuring consistent damping performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tightening screw is used to adjust the braking force, then the adjustment is simple and reliable, but the screw gradually loosens during operation causing loss of tightening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment simplicityVSAvoidtightening stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing a counter-sinking operation on the tightening screw thread before final assembly. This pre-prepared counter-sink receives the tightening screw, creating a mechanical interlock that prevents loosening during operation. The counter-sink is formed in advance during manufacturing, ensuring the screw maintains its tightening force without gradual loosening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a counter-sink as an intermediary structural feature between the tightening screw and the brake assembly housing. This counter-sink acts as a mediator that distributes the mechanical stress and prevents the screw from rotating loose, while still allowing for simple adjustment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the tensioning element structure is simplified, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adjustment stability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensioning element structureVSAvoidadjustment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The counter-sink is pre-formed in the brake assembly housing during manufacturing, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms or multiple adjustment components. This preliminary structural preparation maintains adjustment stability while keeping the overall device structure simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2437998B1Tensioning element
Publication Date: 2014.04.16 INDEXATOR GROUP
  • EP2437998B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2437998B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2437998B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a tensioning element for setting braking force in a swing damper, wherein the tensioning element (100) is mounted centrally on a swing joint (B) in order to exert force on a brake arrangement (50) so as to result in swing damping. The tensioning element (100) includes a pin (110) serving for the suspension of an accessory (4) to be subjected to swing damping, a sleeve (130) displaceable along a shoulder (111) on the pin (110) in order to activate the brake arrangement (50), an adjusting screw (140) designed to exert axial displacement force on the sleeve (130) via a spring assembly (143), a nut (160) for adjusting the tightening force of the adjusting screw (140) and a locking element (170) which eliminates rotational movement of the screw (140) relative to the pin (110).