Textile End Guide for Cord Load Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing end guides for cord attachment devices in parachutes and weight-critical applications face issues with weight minimization, load equalization, and cord damage due to the use of grooved metallic or plastic spools, which are inadequate for low elongation cords and lead to premature failure.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, low-friction textile guide with flutes that allows multiple turns of cord to equalize load without bearing on each other, using high-strength synthetic materials like Kevlar and Spectra cloth, preventing cord migration and damage by eliminating rigid dividers and allowing smooth cord movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grooved metallic or plastic spools are used as end guides, then cord can be guided through multiple turns, but weight increases and cord damage occurs due to rigid dividers bearing on low elongation cords
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid metallic or plastic spools with a flexible textile guide made of woven fabric. The fabric construction allows the end guide to be lightweight while still providing the necessary guidance for multiple cord turns. The flexible nature of the textile material eliminates the weight penalty associated with traditional rigid spool designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from rigid metallic or plastic materials to flexible textile materials. This parameter change maintains the cord guidance function while dramatically reducing weight. The textile fabric's flexibility allows it to conform to the cord paths without imposing rigid structural constraints that会增加 weight.
2Ease of operation
If grooved metallic or plastic spools are used as end guides, then cord can be guided through multiple turns, but cord damage occurs and premature failure results due to rigid dividers bearing on low elongation cords
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible textile fabric replaces rigid spool structures, eliminating the harmful contact between rigid dividers and the cord. The soft textile material allows the cord to move freely without experiencing stress concentrations or damage from rigid surfaces, thereby improving reliability and preventing premature failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of rigid structures contacting the cord into a benefit by using flexible textile material that naturally conforms to the cord's movement. The flexibility of the textile guide allows it to accommodate cord tension and movement without creating damaging contact points, transforming the design approach from rigid constraint to flexible accommodation.
3Ease of operation
If traditional end guides are used, then cord can be routed through, but load equalization is poor and cord segments bear on each other causing premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible textile guide allows cord segments to move independently and equalize load distribution across all turns. The fabric's flexibility enables each cord segment to find its optimal position without being constrained by rigid structures, allowing for better load sharing and preventing any single segment from bearing excessive load that would cause premature failure.
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 ensures efficient load sharing across all cord segments, minimizing weight and preventing premature failure by maintaining cord integrity and maximizing tensile strength, suitable for weight-critical applications like aircraft and spacecraft.
Implementation Method 1
low-friction textile guide
Data Source
AI summary
An end guide for a cord attachment device includes a cloth. The cloth is configured to fold over, unto, and overlap itself. The cloth has three portions. The first and second portions are longer than a third portion. The cloth is folded axially about a central longitudinal axis. The central longitudinal axis spans from the proximal end to the distal end of the cloth. The folding causes the first and second portions to overlap. A plurality of flutes are configured in the cloth by a plurality of stitch lines running parallel to each other and extending through first and second sides (the front and back) of the cloth and extending through the overlap of the first and second portions. At least one of the plurality of stitch lines are located between each of the flutes. The flutes span to both the proximal and distal ends of the cloth. First and second portions are folded outwardly away from the plurality of flutes at both the proximal and distal ends and then stitched to the cloth so as to create end channels for the routing of a cover cord (when a cover is used) or a keeper cord. The stitching is perpendicular to the plurality of stitch lines.