Tensioning Ring Wedge Mechanism for Bidirectional Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioning rings lack versatility in adjusting circumference and width, limiting their application in pressing soft sleeves against stiffer elements, and often require complex designs and production processes.
Innovation Solution
A tensioning ring with a wedge element and guide member that form a form-fit connection, allowing the circumference to change by moving the wedge element along a guide member, enabling both widening and narrowing, and featuring a tensioning screw aligned parallel to the ring axis for improved accessibility and robust construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional tensioning ring design is used, then the structure is simple, but the range of applications is limited and cannot achieve both widening and narrowing
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning ring employs a dynamic wedge element that can move along guide members to change the ring's circumference. The wedge element's position is adjustable through the tensioning screw mechanism, allowing the ring to dynamically adapt between widened and narrowed states, thereby achieving multiple application scenarios with a single device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning ring is designed with universal functionality to perform both widening and narrowing operations. The form-fit connection between the wedge element and guide members, combined with the reversible movement capability, enables the same device to serve multiple purposes: pressing radially outward, pressing radially inward, and maintaining tension, eliminating the need for different specialized devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wedge element and guide member are connected with a form-fit (undercut), then both widening and narrowing are enabled, but the design and production effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning ring is segmented into distinct functional components: the wedge element, guide members, and tensioning screw assembly. The form-fit connection is specifically implemented between the wedge element and guide members, allowing this complex feature to be localized to where it is most needed while keeping other parts simpler in design and manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The form-fit connection utilizes an asymmetric undercut geometry that enables bidirectional movement control. The undercut shape is designed to engage with the wedge element in a way that permits movement in both directions while maintaining a secure connection, achieving versatile adjustment capability without requiring overly complex symmetric structures.
3Ease of operation
If the tensioning screw is aligned parallel to the ring axis, then accessibility and force transmission are improved, but the mechanism for changing circumference becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning screw is oriented parallel to the ring axis, utilizing the axial dimension for force application. This axial orientation provides excellent accessibility from the end of the ring and allows the screw to directly transmit force to the wedge element, which then converts this axial force into circumferential movement through its inclined surfaces, simplifying the overall mechanism while improving operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge element serves as an intermediary between the tensioning screw and the guide members. The screw's axial movement is transferred to the wedge element, which then interacts with the guide members' inclined surfaces to produce the desired circumferential adjustment. This intermediary mechanism efficiently converts force direction while maintaining simplicity.
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 enhances the tensioning ring's range of applications, allowing radial inward and outward pressure, simplifies assembly, and provides a robust construction with easy force transmission ratio adjustment, while reducing production complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The wedge element is guided at the guide member and can be moved in this guide at the guide part along a movement way by tightening the tensioning screw
Implementation Method 2
the width of the tensioning section and thus the circumference of the tensioning ring changes when the wedge element is moved along the movement way by tightening the tensioning screw
Implementation Method 3
The wedge element and the guide member are held together by a form fit in the width direction, namely engage in each other with an undercut
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tensioning ring (1) having a tensioning section (3), the tensioning section (3) comprising a wedge element (6), a guide member (7a) and a tensioning screw (5), wherein a width of the tensioning section (3) and thus a circumference of the tensioning ring (1) can be changed by tightening the tensioning screw (5), for which purpose the wedge element (6) is guided at the guide member (7a) and is movable in this guide along a movement way (20a) at the guide member (7a) by tightening the tensioning screw (5), the movement way (20a) having a portion in a width direction (4) determining the width of the tensioning section (3), wherein the wedge element (6) and the guide member (7a) engage in one another with an undercut in such a way that they are held together in a form-locking manner with respect to the width direction (4).