Telescopic column
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic columns face challenges in compensating production-related tolerances in both the clamping direction and perpendicular directions, with complex clamping mechanisms and limited adhesive surfaces at joints, particularly when using profiles composed of multiple individual parts.
Innovation Solution
The telescopic column design features obliquely positioned longitudinal ribs and grooves, creating a double tongue and groove profile at each joint, allowing for tolerance compensation in two directions and providing a large adhesive surface, simplifying the assembly process with a single-direction clamping force and using self-adhesive sliding elements for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If profiles are composed of multiple individual parts to enable component installation and sliding bodies, then functionality is improved, but tolerance compensation becomes complex and adhesive surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The profile is divided into individual parts (first and second partial profiles) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for the installation of motors in cavities and the use of sliding bodies between profiles, while maintaining manageable complexity through simple tongue-and-groove joining geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue-and-groove connection is designed with specific geometric dimensions and angles that enable tolerance compensation in multiple directions simultaneously. The dimensional design of the joining geometry allows compensation both along the clamping direction and perpendicular to it
2Adaptability or versatility
If profiles are composed of four individual parts to enable motor installation and sliding bodies, then functionality is improved, but joining complexity increases significantly requiring complicated clamping means
Solution Approach 1:
The profile is divided into individual parts (first and second partial profiles) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows for the installation of motors in cavities and the use of sliding bodies between profiles, while maintaining manageable complexity through simple tongue-and-groove joining geometry
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple joining functions are merged into a single tongue-and-groove connection design. This single joining structure simultaneously provides tolerance compensation in multiple directions, adequate adhesive surface area, and simple clamping requirements, eliminating the need for complex multi-directional clamping means
3Device complexity
If profiles are composed of two individual parts to simplify assembly, then joining complexity is reduced, but tolerance compensation is limited to one direction only
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue-and-groove connection is designed with specific geometric dimensions and angles that enable tolerance compensation in multiple directions simultaneously. The dimensional design of the joining geometry allows compensation both along the clamping direction and perpendicular to it
4Device complexity
If simple tongue and groove connections are used to simplify assembly, then device complexity is reduced, but adhesive surface area is insufficient for strong connections
Solution Approach 1:
The parameters of the tongue-and-groove connection are optimized to provide sufficient adhesive surface area. The specific dimensions, angles, and geometry of the joining surfaces are designed to maximize contact area for adhesive bonding while maintaining simple assembly characteristics
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The telescopic column consists of at least two telescopically displaceable, square hollow profiles, wherein an inner profile (2) is surrounded by at least one outer profile composed of four sub-profiles (4, 9). The latter are bonded together by means of longitudinal ribs (7, 11) and longitudinal grooves (6, 10). The angle (8) between the longitudinal ribs (7, 11) or longitudinal grooves (6, 10) and the outer surface of the first sub-profile (4) is less than 90 degrees. This causes the second sub-profiles (9) to be pulled towards the inner profile (2) when the first sub-profiles (4) are clamped until they abut the inner profile (2) for bonding. Thus, tolerance compensation is achieved simultaneously in two directions. The combination of longitudinal ribs and longitudinal grooves results in a double tongue-and-groove profile at each joint, thereby forming a large bonding surface for adhesive.