Tape Measure Roller Brake Reduces Impact and Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional measuring tape braking systems either fail to maintain the tape's halt condition effectively or impose excessive resistance and impact when stopping the tape while winding up, leading to discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking braking mechanism featuring a roller-shaped braking means that can be operated externally, continuously pressurized to maintain contact with the tape, and wedged between the tape and a supporting member to prevent movement, reducing resistance and impact upon stopping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper is inserted between the tape surfaces to apply brake, then the halt condition is maintained excellently, but the impact to the hand becomes remarkably strong when stopping during winding
Solution Approach 1:
A brake pad is introduced as an intermediary element between the stopper and the tape. The brake pad absorbs and distributes the braking force, preventing direct transmission of impact to the user's hand while maintaining effective tape stopping through friction between the brake pad and tape surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake pad acts as a cushioning element that is positioned in advance between the stopping mechanism and the tape. When braking occurs, the pad compresses and absorbs the shock energy before it can reach the user's hand, reducing impact while maintaining braking effectiveness.
2Reliability
If a stopper is inserted with strong pressuring force to apply brake, then the halt condition is maintained excellently, but the resistant force when pulling out the tape increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad serves as a mediator between the stopper and the tape, distributing the pressuring force over a larger contact area. This reduces the intensity of force transmitted to the tape while maintaining sufficient friction for effective braking, thereby lowering the resistant force during tape extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake pad changes the physical parameters of the braking interface by providing a larger surface area and controlled friction coefficient. This allows the braking force to be distributed more evenly, maintaining halt reliability while reducing peak forces that create resistance during tape pulling.
3Ease of operation
If a brake is applied to the rotation drum to stop the tape, then the operation is simple, but the halt condition cannot be kept and the tape moves during measuring
Solution Approach 1:
The brake pad acts as an intermediary friction element between the stopper mechanism and the tape. When the stopper is activated, the brake pad creates controlled friction against the tape surface, providing reliable stopping and maintaining the halt condition through sustained frictional force rather than direct mechanical contact.
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
The mechanism ensures the tape remains securely stopped with reduced resistance and impact during winding, allowing for smooth operation and minimizing uncomfortable sounds or forces.
Implementation Method 1
the roller is wedged between the surface of the tape coming out of the rotation drum and a predetermined member in order to apply the brake to the tape
Implementation Method 2
a pressuring means for continuously pressuring the braking means in a braking direction
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6(b)
Figure 7(a)~9(b)
AI summary
A self-locking type braking mechanism for a measuring tape in which a stopper is inserted between a surface of a tape coming out of a rotation drum and a surface of the tape winded around the rotation drum in order to apply the brake to the tape is excellent in securing a tape halting condition. However, upon stopping the tape while winding up the tape having pulled out, an impact caused by stopping the tape was fairy strong and a resistance upon pulling out the tape was also strong. In view of the above, the present invention is directed to provide a measuring tape with the self-locking type braking mechanism which can reduce the impact upon stopping the tape while winding up the tape having pulled out, is excellent in keeping the tape in the halting condition, and can reduce the resistance upon pulling out the tape.