Telescopic Protective Covering With Elastic Reset Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective coverings for tool machines are either inadequately sealed or excessively heavy, leading to either insufficient closure or increased production costs and weight, making them difficult to move efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A protective covering composed of telescopically slidable L-shaped segments connected by a flexible, band-shaped or web-shaped connecting element with elastic reset elements that induce momentum for secure closure, using materials like polypropylene for force transfer and even extension/retraction, and featuring flaps and slit-type recesses for secure fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closed bellows are added to ensure sealed closure, then sealing performance is improved, but weight and production complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The protective covering is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can extend and retract independently. Each segment has cover legs that overlap with adjacent segments to create sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for a single large bellows structure while maintaining sealing performance across the entire covering.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a vertical bellows structure to a horizontal overlapping leg arrangement. The cover legs of adjacent segments overlap in the horizontal dimension, creating sealing surfaces through lateral engagement rather than vertical folding, which reduces weight while maintaining seal integrity.
2Reliability
If closed bellows are added to ensure sealed closure, then sealing performance is improved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The covering is segmented into multiple identical or similar modular units, each with standardized cover and support legs. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual segments and easier assembly, replacing the complex single-piece bellows construction with simpler, repeatable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective covering employs dynamic telescopic segments that can extend and retract, replacing static bellows structures. This dynamic design allows the covering to adapt to varying lengths while maintaining sealing through the overlapping leg mechanism, simplifying production compared to creating a single flexible bellows structure.
3Weight of moving object
If weight is reduced for easier movement, then speed and maneuverability are improved, but sealing performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is achieved through horizontal overlapping of cover legs between adjacent segments rather than vertical bellows folding. This dimensional change creates effective sealing surfaces through the overlap geometry while using lighter materials and structures, maintaining seal integrity without the weight penalty of traditional bellows.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover legs are designed with sufficient flexibility to maintain contact and sealing pressure against adjacent segments during telescopic movement. The legs can deflect and conform to maintain the sealed interface while using thinner, lighter materials compared to rigid bellows construction, achieving both weight reduction and reliable sealing.
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 solution provides a secure, lightweight closure mechanism that allows for efficient extension and retraction of the protective covering, maintaining a sealed environment while reducing weight and production complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic reset element is respectively arranged on the support legs in such a manner that it is fastened with its first end to the support leg and abuts with its second end with prestressing against a section of the connecting element, pushing it into the direction of the support leg
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a protective covering comprising a plurality of substantially L-shaped protective covering segments (2, 16) comprising a cover leg (3, 17) and a support leg (4, 18) which are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they are telescopically slidable with respect to one another, wherein the cover legs (3, 17) of adjacent protective covering segments (2, 16) each come to bear on one another thus forming an overall substantially closed surface, and comprising at least one band-shaped or web-shaped flexible connecting element (5, 31) which connects the support legs (4, 18) of the protective covering segments (2, 16) with each other so as to at least transfer a tensile force. Disposed on each of the support legs (4, 18) is at least one elastic reset element (11, 32) such that said element is fastened with its first end to the support leg (4, 18) and abuts with its second end with prestressing against a section of the connecting element (5, 31) so as to urge said section in the direction of the support leg (4, 18).