Rotational Telescopic Tube Locking for High Axial Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic tubes with rotating mechanisms face issues of unreliable holding force under high pressure and high manufacturing costs due to complex designs with multiple parts, leading to uncontrollable extension and expensive production.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic tube design featuring an outer and inner tube element with protrusions and recesses forming clamping surfaces that interact to provide a rigid, backlash-free connection, along with stop portions to limit rotation, allowing for a form-fit mechanism that withstands axial loads and is cost-effectively manufactured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parts (tube elements, nuts, clamping elements) are used to create a telescopic coupling, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (clamping elements, nuts, and tube elements) into a single integrated tube element design. The clamping surfaces are directly formed on the tube elements themselves, eliminating the need for separate clamping elements and nuts, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining connection reliability through the form-fit mechanism between protrusions and recesses
Solution Approach 2:
The tube elements are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable telescopic movement, and create the locking mechanism through their integrated clamping surfaces. The protrusions and recesses serve both as structural features and as the locking mechanism, eliminating the need for dedicated locking components
2Device complexity
If friction-based clamping elements are used to connect tube elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the holding force becomes unreliable under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using friction-based clamping that relies on user-applied force, the patent inverts the approach by using a form-fit mechanical interlocking mechanism. The protrusions and recesses create a geometric lock that passively resists high axial loads and liquid pressure without depending on friction or user power, making the holding force reliable under high pressure conditions
3Reliability
If a rigid clamping mechanism is implemented to resist high axial loads, then the connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to multiple parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clamping mechanism into the tube elements themselves through directly formed protrusions and recesses. This integrated design eliminates the need for separate expensive components while maintaining the rigid clamping capability to resist high axial loads, thereby improving ease of manufacture and reducing production costs
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 design achieves a stable, lockable, and adjustable telescopic tube that resists high axial loads, such as those from liquid pressure, while reducing manufacturing costs through a simplified structure and effective clamping mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
A first end of a first tube element is coupled with a first end of a second tube element by clamping elements made of rubber in order to provide a frictional connection
Implementation Method 2
a first stop portion is provided at the inner wall side of the outer tube element, said first stop portion interacting with a second stop portion provided at the outer wall side of the inner tube element, said stop portions providing stop means to limit the angle of rotation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6b
AI summary
The invention relates to a telescopic tube comprising at least an outer and an inner tube element (10, 20), wherein said outer tube element (10) comprises at least one first clamping surface (1), said first clamping surface (11) being arranged in a recess or groove (12) within a first protrusion (13) or on top of the first protrusion (13), said first protrusion (13) provided at the inner wall side of the outer tube element (10), wherein the inner tube element (20) comprises at least one second clamping surface (21), said second clamping surface (21) being arranged in a recess or groove within at least one second protrusion (22) or on top of said at least one second protrusion (22), said second protrusion (22) provided at the outer wall side of the inner tube element (20), wherein the second clamping surface (21) is adapted to interact with the first clamping surface (11) such that the tube elements (10, 20) are fixed against each other by clamping in a first turning position of the outer tube element (10) with respect to the inner tube element (20) and are telescopable in a second turning position of the outer tube element (10) with respect to the inner tube element (20), wherein a first stop portion (14) is provided at the inner wall side of the outer tube element (10), said first stop portion (14) interacting with a second stop portion (23) provided at the outer wall side of the inner tube element (20), said stop portions (14, 23) providing stop means to limit the angle of rotation by which the tube elements (10, 20) can be rotated relative to each other.