Taper Section Pole Connector to Prevent Jamming and Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telescopic pole assemblies for elevated cleaning tasks face issues such as weight, complexity, frequent wear, and jamming due to elastomer seals and bearing structures, leading to difficulty in extension and retraction, and potential failure of the innermost sections, while taper section poles suffer from wedging and jamming when trying to separate or deploy from unusual angles.
Innovation Solution
A connector system for taper section poles with uniform wall thickness and tapered ends, featuring radially extending projections and tracks for secure engagement without obstructions, and resilient elements to prevent unintentional decoupling, allowing for a lightweight, compact, and fluid-tight assembly with minimal play.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If telescopic pole sections are used with uniform diameter to enable extension, then the pole assembly can be extended to reach elevated locations, but fluid seals and bearing structures must be incorporated between sections which increases weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs telescopic pole sections where one section is inserted within another, enabling extension to reach elevated locations. The nested configuration allows the pole assembly to achieve extended length while maintaining a compact stored state, directly addressing the need for reachability without permanent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pole assembly is divided into multiple discrete telescopic sections that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized separately and facilitates maintenance or replacement of individual components, reducing overall system complexity while enabling extension capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If telescopic pole sections are used with clamps or brakes to prevent collapse, then the extended pole sections remain stable, but the clamp mechanism increases weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cam-based locking mechanisms that utilize the weight and gravitational force of the pole sections themselves to maintain stability when extended. The cam locks engage to prevent collapse, using the existing mass of the sections rather than requiring additional active stabilization systems, thereby reducing complexity.
3Strength
If screws, rivets or pins are used to secure clamp parts to pole sections, then the clamp is securely attached, but the securing elements obstruct the bore of the pole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional penetrating fasteners (screws, rivets, pins) from the pole bore and replaces them with external attachment methods such as clamp assemblies that secure to the exterior surface. This extraction of fastening elements from the internal bore space eliminates obstructions while maintaining secure attachment through external clamping forces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If repeated extending and retraction of telescopic sections is performed, then the pole assembly is adaptable to different work heights, but wear on bearing structures and seals increases causing play and difficulty in targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resilient elastomer rings as bearing structures that provide dynamic compensation for wear. These resilient elements can deform to accommodate minor dimensional changes and wear, maintaining smooth operation and reducing play even after repeated extending and retraction cycles, thereby preserving positioning precision.
5Force
If the clamp bites onto the carbon fibre pole section, then the clamp can grip the pole securely, but frequent repeated application causes the pole section to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protective sleeves or coating layers as intermediary elements between the clamp gripping surfaces and the carbon fibre pole section. These intermediaries distribute the clamp pressure more evenly and prevent direct concentrated biting into the carbon fibre, thereby maintaining secure grip while extending the service life of the pole section.
6Device complexity
If taper section poles are used with male end socketing into female end, then the assembly is simple without seals or bearings, but the sections can jam when trying to separate or deploy from unusual angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric tapered designs where the male and female ends have non-uniform geometry that guides proper alignment during assembly. The asymmetric taper angles and surface profiles prevent jamming by ensuring that sections can only engage in the correct orientation, facilitating smooth assembly and disassembly even from various angles while maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A pole section for temporary assembly with similar pole members into an elongate apparatus to extend the manual reach of a user whereby a user can perform work on a worksite remote from the user where the site is elevated by up to 20m above the user. Each pole section (1a, 1b) includes a male end (2) and a female end (3), having a complementary taper to slide into or around the other of a male or female end and form an airtight joint with a stiffness similar to the overall stiffness of the pole. The ends (2, 3) of each pole section (1) includes one of first and second complementary coupling parts (6, 9). The coupling parts cooperate to prevent the pole sections moving relatively towards each other under the weight of overlying pole sections in use and therefore prevent the pole sections jamming together and becoming difficult to separate. A ring spring (114) is provided in the coupling parts to facilitate connection and disconnection and prevent unwanted disconnection of the coupling parts, and hence the pole sections.