Tilt-Stable Orthopedic Rotating Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tilt-stable rotating joints in orthopedic components face challenges in achieving high stability against tilting while maintaining a compact design, particularly in applications where space is limited, and existing solutions rely heavily on precise manufacturing tolerances for tilt stability.
Innovation Solution
The rotating joint design incorporates a shaft arrangement with sections protruding from the inner joint piece, forming a rotationally fixed unit with slide bearings between the shaft arrangement and the through-holes of the branches, providing support on both cylindrical jacket surfaces and increasing the slide-bearing surface area for enhanced tilt stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the rotating joint is made flat to reduce bulkiness, then the available space is reduced, but the tilt stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-plane bearing surface to a multi-dimensional support structure by introducing shaft arrangements that extend in multiple directions from the inner joint piece. These shafts create bearing surfaces in different spatial dimensions, allowing the joint to maintain tilt stability without increasing overall bulkiness in any single direction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If precise manufacturing with low production tolerances is used, then tilt stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the bearing structure by introducing multiple shaft arrangements with specific external diameters that correspond to the internal diameters of the through-holes. This parameter change allows the use of standard tolerance ranges while achieving the required tilt stability, eliminating the need for expensive low-tolerance manufacturing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a larger bearing surface is created, then tilt stability is improved, but the device becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bearing surface into multiple discrete shaft arrangements rather than using a single large continuous surface. Each shaft arrangement with its corresponding through-hole creates an individual bearing point, and the collective effect of multiple segmented bearing surfaces provides the required tilt stability without requiring a large overall joint structure.
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
This design significantly improves tilt stability by distributing the load across a larger bearing surface, allowing for a more compact and stable rotating joint without excessive bulkiness, while maintaining rotational fixity and safety requirements.
Implementation Method 1
slide bearings are formed between the walls of the through-holes of the branches and the sections of the shaft arrangement
Implementation Method 2
The wall of the through-holes of the branches is preferably formed by in each case an inserted slide-bearing sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tilt-stable rotating joint suitable for technical orthopedic components, including a forked external joint part with two limbs whose parallel inner walls pointing towards each other form a slit of a given width and are provided with flush continuous holes. A flat inner joint part protrudes into the slit and a continuous hole, and a shaft arrangement protruding through the continuous holes forms a rotating bearing surface with a cover surface. The tilt-stability is increased because the shaft arrangement is formed by sections protruding from the inner joint part, having an external diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the continuous holes of the limbs. Stability is also increased by the fact that the shaft arrangement is rotationally fixed to the inner joint part and sliding bearings are formed between the walls of the continuous holes of the limbs and the sections of the shaft arrangement.